Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | Staff Sgt. Jared Jonasson prepares to throw a grenade simulator Nov. 8 during the...... read more read more
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By STAFF SGT EDDIE SIGUENZA
69th Public Affairs Detachment
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The California Army National Guard’s annual Best Warrior Competition will once again determine who is the best of the best.
The 2017-18 Best Warrior Competition was held Nov. 5-8 at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, and the winners, the Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, will be announced in early 2018. Five NCOs and six junior enlistees competed and one elite in each of the two respective fields will be selected.
The competitors represented five Cal Guard commands. During the four-day competition, their Army aptitudes were tested in board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams, and Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills. Every year, BWC recognizes Soldiers and NCOs who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the Warrior Ethos.
“This is the time when we find our top NCO and Soldier,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph Menard, senior enlisted advisor, Cal Army Guard, who oversees the program. “Finding our top competitor doesn’t end there. There’s the regional competition coming up next year and a chance to compete in the All Army BWC after that.”
Competing NCOs this year were: Staff Sgt. Salvador Gutierrez from Alpha Company, 185th Infantry Regiment, 100th Troop Command; Staff Sgt. Jared Jonasson, 140th Chemical Company, 49th Military Police Brigade; Sgt. Joshua Monday, Alpha Company, 640th Aviation Support Battalion, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade; Sgt. George Ruiz, 49th Personnel Support Company, 115th Regional Support Group; and Staff Sgt. Francisco Vianaescobar, Headquarters, 578th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The junior enlisted Soldiers include: Pfc. Michael Usher, Alpha Company, 640th Aviation Support Battalion, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade; Spc. Devon Witt, Headquarters Company, 115th Regional Support Group; Spc. David Ortiz, Bravo Company, 185th Infantry Regiment, 100th Troop Command; Spc. Emefa Freckleton, Division Signal Company, 40th Infantry Division; Spc. Deng A. Deng, Charlie Troop, 185th Cavalry Regiment, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team; and Spc. Fabio Avetisyan, Headquarters Detachment, 1106th Theatre Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group.
BWC is four days of mental and physical challenges. It started with the fitness test, where competitors had to perform pushups, sit ups and run two miles to the best of their best abilities, and ended with a grenade event where they were scored on accuracy and time. Participants threw five simulators at three targets, each having to land in a kill zone.
Between first and last events were a 12-mile ruck sack march, an unknown distance run (later to be announced as six miles), rifle and pistol marksmanship, and the popular obstacle course challenge.
There’s also a mystery event. This year, it was staged in a warehouse where participants had to react, adapt and overcome a situation quickly and decisively. It was designed to see how well they can think on their feet while under both mental and physical stress.
BWC is annually hosted by the 223rd Regional Training Institute.
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2017 13:39 |
| Story ID: | 254824 |
| Location: | SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA, US |
| Hometown: | SACRAMENTO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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