Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Staff Sgt. Christopher Wagner (left) and Spc. Andrew Brotherton, both assigned to the...... read more read more
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BUTNER, N.C. – North Carolina National Guard Soldiers’ physical and mental limits are pushed to their boundaries as they compete in the state Best Warrior Competition at the Camp Butner Training Center March 4-8, 2019.
The BWC is an annual competition collecting the best junior enlisted and noncommissioned officers from each Major Subordinate Command in North Carolina to place them in a grueling four-day competition channeling their warrior ethos.
“I think the best warrior [competition] is important overall, because it reaches down to the lowest level,” said Sgt. Maj. Shane Potts, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the BWC. “It digs a little bit deeper into their fortitude, honor, pride to wear the uniform, their competitiveness and their professionalism to endure these events physically and mentally. This is really going to try them at their lowest moments when they feel that they can’t do things, but they have to push to that extra step.”
Sleep depravation, 22-degree weather and physical fatigue are just a few of the obstacles competitors’ battle throughout the duration of the competition. Leading up to day one and throughout the competition, the sponsor-competitor duo tackles each event systematically.
“I did a lot of research just to make sure things hadn’t changed too much,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Wyatt, sponsor to Spc. Alizi Douglas. “I talked to some friends from prior deployments; rangers and special forces guys to see what they do to prepare for these long ruck marches. I did weapons training at the unit. I developed an entire work out routine and study schedule as soon as we found out he was moving forward.”
Day two starts one of the longest days of the competition, having Soldiers start with an Army Physical Fitness Test, qualifying with a Beretta M9 and an M4 carbine assault rifle, then rolling into a 16-station obstacle course. To top off the day, competitors have two hours to complete a day and night land navigation course.
“You train up to this moment; running everyday and building endurance, but when you go through those first couple of obstacles your already gassed,” said Douglas.
Douglas also admitted that having his sponsor by his side to continue pushing him through the obstacle course helped a lot. He also said being a role model was another source of his motivation to keep going.
“I actually have a sister that just joined today,” said Douglas. “She is joining the National Guard as well. I am just trying to be a role model and show my peers you can do whatever you want to do as long as you put your mind to it.”
The buckling of Soldiers ruck sack clips echo through the air as they prepare to pump out a 12-mile ruck march in the early morning hours, kicking off the third day. Later, warriors put their knowledge to the test as they rise to the occasion of completing Army Warrior Tasks, which include rendering first-aid, weapons disassembly and assembly, and simulating prepping and mounting a claymore mine.
Sprinkled throughout the competition Soldiers and sponsors anticipate mystery events revealed minutes before completing the event. This forces competitors to draw on common knowledge with no lead-time to prepare.
“I like the mystery events,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brennen Wilson, assigned to the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team. “When you go to fight our nation’s battles, you don’t know what’s really out there, but if you know your stuff you will always succeed in the mission.”
The last day challenges Soldiers’ mental capacity as they prepare for an appearance board in front of a panel of Command Sergeants Major and engage in a media exercise. Soldiers are asked a number of questions that come from various Army regulations, military history and current affairs impacting the military.
“Coming from the infantry side, we focus a lot on tactics, shooting and movement, but we don’t really focus on the nuances of the Army; some of the regulations and the bookwork that goes in there. What governs Soldiers and what governs policy?” said Wilson. “He [Wilson’s sponsor] is the one that pointed me on the right path and got me all the study material.”
While the scores are tallied on the final day, competitors and sponsors mingle with the senior leadership and chat with their peers about the best and worst parts of the competition during a banquet.
Spc. Andrew Brotherton and Staff Sgt. Christopher Wagner, assigned to the 60th Troop Command are crowned victorious during the award ceremony.
The winners will move on to the Regional competition in the spring of this year to see who will represent the state of North Carolina at the national competition.
“Congratulations to the winners and the runners up,” Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, the adjutant general of North Carolina said. “Each and every one of you that competed in these very arduous and austere conditions we have experienced over this last week, you have already proven yourself a cut above the rest. You need to understand how personally proud I am and I know that we as the National Guard are for everything that you have gone through in this last week.”
| Date Taken: | 03.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2019 09:52 |
| Story ID: | 313628 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 370 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NCNG: 2019 Best Warrior Competition, by SFC Leticia Samuels, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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