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Michigan Army National Guardsmen Sgt. 1st Class Jamison Yager, a military policeman with the 177th Military Police Brigade and Spc. Kenneth Klett, a fire control specialist with the 1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, will represent Michigan at the National Best Warrior Competition after finishing first in their respective classes at the Best Warrior Competition for Region IV held May 7-10, 2019 on Fort Custer, Michigan.
This is the first time since 2009 that the Michigan Army National Guard will compete on the national stage for the Best Warrior Competition, besting the junior enlisted and non-commissioned officer candidates from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Yager and Klett will represent Region IV in Oklahoma in July.
“I don’t think our soldiers often understand what they’re capable of,” said Sgt. Maj. Rebecca Witt, the point-of-contact and primary organizer of the regional event. “I think stuff like that proves to them that they’re capable of digging in and pushing through even when they think they’re not going to.”
The competition was composed of three days of events designed to challenge every aspect of the warrior capabilities of the competitors. They were expected to accomplish athletic feats, including a 12-mile ruck march, timed obstacle course, Army physical fitness test and nighttime grenade course; academic feats, including boards, Army service uniform inspection, and demonstration of army warrior tasks; and implementation of both, including a day-night land navigation course and live stress-fires.
This is the fourth year Yager has competed for this title on Fort Custer during his 16-year career in the Army, having competed at the state level 3 times, winning first this past year and gaining a spot to compete in regionals.
“Experience is probably my biggest advantage,” said Yager. “Don’t underestimate an old man in a young man’s profession.”
Yager was previously Klett's drill sergeant while he attended the Recruit Sustainment Program, which is designed to prepare recruits for basic training. Klett has competed at the state level twice in his 3 years of service; now, he will join Yager in competing at the national competition.
“It’s been really encouraging to train with him and see the Soldier I’ve become,” Klett said. “There was a lot of good competition here.”
What advice would these Best Warriors give to anyone looking to compete in future events?
“Come to rip faces,” Klett said with a grin.
“Don’t let minor setbacks discourage you,” said Yager. "Everybody bombs something in these competitions. You’ve just got to keep going.”
These competitors also place a lot of their success in the support they’ve received from their families in training and studying for the events.
Jordan Klett, the wife of Spc. Kenneth Klett, is already getting ready to help her husband hit the books again.
“It’s time to go back to the Army doctrine,” she said.
Yager thanks his fiancé Jade who has “enforced my training schedules, bolstered me in my moments of self-doubt and listened to my complaints of sore legs and bruised shoulders with true empathy.”
Lt. Col. Raymond Stemitz of the 177th Military Police Brigade, urged the importance of competitions like this in highlighting soldiers who are leading the way in preparing for the next great conflict, which will demand the best of our servicemembers
“You’ve already shown you have the moxy to be here.” Stemitz said. “Thank you for being winners.”
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2019 10:51 |
| Story ID: | 322976 |
| Location: | BATTLE CREEK , MI, US |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Michigan National Guard drill sergeant and his Soldier sweep regional Best Warrior Competition, by SGT Samantha Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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