Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ryele Bertoch | Col. Roland Dicks from the 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade, presents a trophy to...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Soldiers from the 189th Combine Arms Training Brigade hosted the 2018 First Army Division West Best Warrior Competition, consisting of fourteen grueling events Nov. 13th through 16th, 2018.
The competitors were challenged with the Total Soldier Concept of being both physically and mentally tough. The events ranged from a 12-mile ruck march and an Army physical fitness test to a written exam, essay and a command sergeants major board appearance.
Specialist Logan Wendland, a motor transport operator from Headquarters Company, 120th Infantry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, was the sole junior enlisted Soldier to compete against all non-commissioned officers.
“It felt pretty good. I knew that I needed to stay motivated and try to keep up with my senior leaders,” said Wendland. “Its been a lot of studying, a lot more than what I thought it was going to be – a lot of late nights, getting done with the physical side of it and then spending some time studying for the board.”
Wendland competed against eight other competitors ranging from the ranks of sergeant to sergeant first class.
The competitors began the competition with a timed combat physical test, starting with a one-mile run, tire flips, an agility drill, sand bag squats, a 50 meter weighted drag, a sandbag toss and ended with an additional mile run. The day ended with a fifteen-event confidence course.
Each Soldier found their own ways to motivate themselves during the brutal tasks of the competition.
Staff Sgt. Michael Meyer from the 3rd Battalion, 358th Field Artillery said, “My dad is a labor worker. I just think of all the stuff that he has to go through all day. He works 90 plus hours a week on less sleep than what I get so I cant really complain. He’s got it worse than I do.”
After four long days and all the events were scored, Staff Sgt. Joshua Rice of the 3rd Battalion, 362nd Armored Regiment, was named the First Army Division West Best Warrior.
“Since I was a private, I always had leaders tell me don’t be stagnant,” Rice said. “People get comfortable doing their day-to-day jobs and this definitely throws you out of your comfort zone.”
Rice received an Army Accommodation Medal, the Best Warrior Bayonet Trophy and a coin from the 189th CATB Commander, Col. Roland Dicks.
After being awarded, Rice said, “It’s a reminder that I’m doing the right thing. I’m learning what we’re supposed to know in the Army as leaders and as Soldiers. It makes me feel good that I’m still on the right path.”
| Date Taken: | 11.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.27.2018 19:35 |
| Story ID: | 301382 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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