With smoke practically still curling from the barrel of his 9 mm pistol, New Jersey Army National Guard Sgt. Daniel Beachum stepped off the marksmanship range and explained how he’d felt about downing all the targets.
“I felt like Bruce Willis,” Beachum said with a wide grin.
The Die Hard feeling didn’t go away.
The next day, Beachum was named Best Warrior in the noncommissioned officer category of the annual three-day competition that gathers the top NCOs and enlisted Soldiers from across the New Jersey Army National Guard to determine who best embodies the warrior ethos.
Spc. Joe Garback won the enlisted category to claim his second straight New Jersey Best Warrior title. Both will compete in the Region I competition later this month against their counterparts from the six New England states and New York.
For more than 72 grueling, rain-drenched hours, Soldiers in the Best Warrior Competition demonstrate their Army aptitude conquering urban warfare simulations and board interviews as well as timed events to include a physical fitness test, a 12-mile ruck march and land navigation.
Sgt. Maj. Kevin Kirkpatrick, who oversaw the competition, defined what it takes to be a Best Warrior:
“Somebody who can react well under stressful situations; someone who takes the time to figure out his craft would be the best soldier.”
The Soldiers worked hard to fit Kirkpatrick’s definition. However, the competitors didn’t just react well to the situations; they even enjoyed some of them.
“I’m just having fun,” said Sgt. Michael Henri, infantryman with Charlie Company of the 113th Infantry Regiment. The 36-year-old Henri started the competition strong, running two miles at a sub-6 minute-mile pace.
Although Henri didn’t win, he said he relished the chance to represent his unit in the competition.
For Beachum, of Alpha Company of the 113th Infantry, and Garback, of Bravo Company of the 114th Infantry, the chance to represent their units will continue with the regional competition. Garback also won that competition last year.
Garback sees the Best Warrior Competition as more than a contest.
“Although we’re all competing, everyone is still very close,” he said.
Beachum agreed.
“We’re all warriors; we’re all just trying to see who is the best warrior in New Jersey,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2017 09:07 |
| Story ID: | 232992 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Jersey’s ‘Best Warriors’, by SGT Derek Vasquez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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