Photo By Spc. Jessica Todd | Oklahoma Army National Guard Pfc. Quianna White, right, from Headquarters Battery,...... read more read more
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Female faces the challenge of Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition 2019
Story by Spc. Jessica Todd
145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP GRUBER, Okla. – Pfc. Quianna White of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard, came to compete against other male counterparts in a three-day event at Camp Gruber Training Center for the title of 2019 Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior which determines the top noncommissioned officer (NCO) and enlisted Soldier for the state.
The annual competition challenges Soldiers to rely on their military skills, tactics and experience to navigate more than 10 scored events. White felt a little under-prepared in those areas because this is only her second drill after graduating Basic and Advanced Individual Training as a Fire Control Specialist at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, earlier this year. She was chosen by her unit because of her earning the maximum score of 300 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
“I know I am extremely inexperienced so I am looking at learning more than winning,” White said. “I’m looking at what I can learn from my competitors and the NCOs, and how to be a better Soldier. Along with that, I am looking at what I’m good at, what I’m not good at, what I need to practice and what I need to work on.”
The 23 other competitors came from various units in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Altogether, there were 13 junior-enlisted Soldiers and 11 noncommissioned officers (NCO) hand-chosen from the battalion level. They were fighting to be the representative for their individual units, and hopefully, the entire Oklahoma Army National Guard in the Regional National Best Warrior Competitions.
“It’s great Pfc. White is competing because it highlights the diversity that is spreading across the Oklahoma Army National Guard,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Miller, Command Sgt. Maj. of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. “She did a great job and I appreciate her coming out and giving 100 percent effort.”
Even though White is not the first female to compete in the qualifying round of the competition, people took notice of a woman competing.
Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Bulera of the 189th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), and liaison between the competitors and the NCOIC during the competition, said, “I think that it’s great there is one female up against all these male competitors - for her to say yes to sign up is really neat.”
White did not take first place in the competition, however, she was still appreciative of the chance to compete.
“I figured as a young private and female, it would be a really great opportunity to do things that most are unable to do,” said White.
Outside of representing her unit in the competition, White works as a kindergarten teacher at Jackson Elementary in Norman, Oklahoma, while studying sociology at the University of Oklahoma. Afterwards, White plans to get a Doctorate in Psychology with a focus in mental and behavioral health and continue in her Army career as an officer.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2019 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 346567 |
| Location: | CAMP GRUBER, OK, US |
| Hometown: | DACULA, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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