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First Army Division West hosted the Best Warrior Competition from Feb. 22 to Feb. 26 here on Fort Hood.
Ten Soldiers represented their respective brigades in a competition testing their Soldiering task and drills, including physical fitness, weapon, and gear proficiency.
The 120th Infantry Brigade, 189th Inf. Bde., 181st Inf. Bde., 5th Armored Bde., 166th Aviation Bde., and Headquarters and Headquarters Company Div. West all competed to distinguish the best warrior.
“I’m excited to go up against these other competitors,” Staff Sgt. Christian Cummings, 5th Armored Bde., said. “Ultimately, I hope to win and go on to the next level of competition.”
The competition began with the Army Combat Fitness Test, which consisted of the three-repetition maximum deadlift, standing power throw, hand release push-up, sprint-drag-carry, leg tuck, and two-mile run.
On the second day, the competitors had to tread water for five minutes without touching the bottom and sides of the pool, a 50-meter swim while wearing their gear, and an equipment ditch that required each competitor to jump into the pool backwards and submerge themselves as they removed their equipment before resurfacing to demonstrate their water survival skills.
“I’m not too comfortable, but comfortable enough to get through this,” Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Torres, a Soldier from the 120th Inf. Bde., said. “Everybody’s fit, everybody’s tough, everybody’s motivated to be here. It’s good to compete against my peers.”
Following water survival was a simulated request for artillery over at the Warriors Skills Training Center. The competitors had to review a map and accurately call for an artillery strike on a target with virtual reality binoculars.
“This is a field artillery skill,” Staff Sgt. Jay-Anthony Sanpedro, a mortuary affairs specialist from the 120th Inf. Bde., said. “Between all of us, I think it’s a pretty fair match. But I have that motivation to win.”
The final event was an obstacle course to test the competitors’ strength, speed, and endurance with elements like monkey bars, rope climbing, and wall-jumping.
“There’s a lot of competition out here, so I know it’s gonna be tough,” Sanpedro said. “All these guys are on top of their game, so I have to push it.”
The third day of the event began with the 13-mile ruck march, while carrying a 35-pound rucksack and their assigned weapon.
“The turn-around point is always the hardest part,” Staff Sgt. Justin Gonzales, a Soldier from the 189th Inf. Bde., said. “You give it all you got to get to the turn-around point, and you have to have that motivation to make it up the hill and keep trekking all the way through.”
Immediately after the ruck march, the competitors moved to a nearby range where the stress to shoot was held.
The Soldiers fired at targets while maneuvering with two sandbags and simulated grenades deploying around them.
“The sand gave me some trouble,” Staff Sgt. Brian Sullivan, said. “I thought I was going to be able to breeze through that. It definitely took some horsepower to pull that thing.”
The Soldiers then headed to Division West Headquarters to conduct a functions check, disassemble and reassemble of the M-4 Carbine Rifle, as well as a written test on Army knowledge to end that day of competition.
The fourth day began with the land navigation event. The competitors had to plot points on a map and use their compass to guide them to specific points. One point had a simulated attack where the Soldier needed to use grenades to take out enemy forces and rescue an injured comrade.
“The most difficult part of this land nav is the 20-plus miles we have to walk, especially after the ruck march yesterday,” Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Kavanagh, assigned to the 181st Inf. Bde., said. “The thing I appreciate most about land nav is knowing I still have the skill to get around without having to use electronic devices. It’s a good skill to have.”
The last day of the competition consisted of an interview board where all the competitors dressed in their Army Service Uniforms and were tested on a range of topics questioned by assigned judges.
Following the board, the scores were added up and Sgt. 1st Class Jon Wixson, representing the 166th Aviation Bde., was declared the winner of the First Army Division West Best Warrior Competition.
“All the competitors were great.” Wixson said. “We kept each other’s spirits up and made the competition fun. I gave it my all. I enjoyed and learned from it.”
Wixson, along with the two runner-ups, will represent Div. West at the First Army Best Warrior Competition to be held in the next few months.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2021 18:29 |
| Story ID: | 391758 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, First Army Division West decides who is their Best Warrior, by SGT Anthony Sanchez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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