Ultimate warrior competition

WA, UNITED STATES

04.27.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Pawlak 

7th Infantry Division

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.-The Bayonet Division’s and 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade’s finest warriors engaged in a non-stop, mental and physical clash against themselves and each other as participants of the best warrior competition.
The 7th Infantry Division identified the best noncommissioned officer and Soldier of the year, best junior officer, and warrant officer through the 2018 7th Infantry Division Best of Competition held at various ranges and courses throughout Joint Base Lewis-McChord, April 24-27, 2018. Winning participants from the competition will compete in the America’s I Corps competition, May 14-17, 2018.
"The best warrior competition provides opportunities for our officers, non-commissioned officers, and warrant officers to demonstrate their proficiency in physical fitness, marksmanship, land navigation and a variety of skills," said Maj. Gen. Willard Burleson III, commanding general of the 7th Infantry Division. "All of which we capture daily in our America's Big 6."
Soldiers had to be prepared not only physically but mentally as well. Soldiers conducted operations – including multiple ruck marches, weapons qualification ranges, an obstacle course, a medical training lane, and an M4 stress shoot after completing seven tasks - under harsh conditions; they became cold, thirsty, tired, and energy-depleted.
"One of the best things about the competition was the amount of resilience the Soldiers had to have to push through each event; some of the Soldiers had minor injuries, they fought through the pain and stayed resilient,” said 1st Sgt. Aram R. Jacques, a competitor from the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 109th Military Intelligence Battalion, 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade. “They had the intestinal fortitude to keep strong and push through each event."
The warriors maintained their drive to finish the four-day event, particularly in the face of fierce opposition and hardship. The warriors had to be prepared for rigorous and demanding physical activity.
“The competition was tough but good (because) you can push yourself (further)," said Spc. Michael Carnley, a participant from the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade. "Definitely have to start working more on ruck marches, they are tough especially when you are doing multiple ones, one after another and other physical stuff.”
The warrior competition gave leaders and enlisted an opportunity to compete against each other.
“It was motivational seeing the senior leaders out here, usually it’s just enlisted doing competitions but having the seniors out here kept me motivated and gave me the drive to push harder,” said Carnley.
Jacques added, “As senior leaders, it is good to be out here because we are doing the same thing that we are telling our Soldiers to do. You add in the junior officers building on their Soldier skills and the warrant officers going back to their roots of when they were Soldiers, just that whole realistic approach in the competition is amazing.”
Physical and mental readiness was unleashed continuously during the competition. The competition exhibited the overall readiness of all the Soldiers who competed.
"The takeaway for the Soldiers for this event is to see the camaraderie, the drive, the Warrior Ethos, and to actually get out and do actual Soldier training," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Peredo, a competition coordinator from 7th Infantry Division. "I think for some of these Soldiers here, to include the noncommissioned officers and officers, they haven’t done day and night land navigation in quite some time so coming out here is a great for these guys.”
The warriors demonstrated their leadership abilities by adjusting their actions based on the complex competition environment.
“The competition is going to prepare them for the future, becoming great leaders for the Army," concluded Peredo.

The winners of the 2018 7th Infantry Division Best of Competition will be announced during a ceremony at the Bayonet Division headquarters May 9, 2018.

• Date Taken: 04.27.2018
• Date Posted: 05.02.2018 14:03
• Story ID: 275409
• Location: WA, US