Blackjack Warrior Competition 2021

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ian Vega-Cerezo | FORT BLISS, Texas – Pfc. Taylor Sherwood, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade configures a SINCGARS radio during Blackjack Best Warrior, May 19 on Fort Bliss. The weeklong Blackjack Best Warrior competition tests Soldiers, in the categories of junior enlisted, NCO, Officer, Warrant Officer and career counselor, on their intellect, fitness and their understanding of warrior tasks and battle drills.  

EL PASO, TX, UNITED STATES

05.17.2021

Story by Sgt. Ian Vega-Cerezo 

32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command

FORT BLISS, Texas – Soldiers of the 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command gave their all to find out who among them was the best of the best during the Blackjack Warrior Competition, at McGregor Range, held May 10, 2021.
The weeklong, NCO planned-and-led Blackjack Warrior Competition tested 18 Soldiers, in the categories of: Junior Enlisted, Non-Commissioned Officer, Officer, Warrant Officer and Career Counselor, on their intellect, fitness and understanding of warrior tasks and battle drills.
“What qualifies me to be the best career counselor is my physical fitness, my general Soldier knowledge, and my ability to communicate effectively,” said Staff Sgt. Christofer Azcona, winner of the Career Counselor category who proudly serves with 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
Competitors endured long days in the desert heat undertaking everything from the Army Combat Fitness Test, marksmanship qualifications, a scenario-based training that included an assault on a village to rescue a wounded Solider, and a timed response to a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear attack.
The most difficult and demanding of these tasks was the stress shoot, an event that challenged competitors to race across several hundred meters of hills to complete a series of tasks that included treating and fireman-carrying a casualty, fixing a radio, calling in a nine-line medical evacuation report, and lastly engaging a 25-meter target with both an M9 pistol and an M4A1 Carbine.
“These warrior tasks and battle drills are things that we don’t do regularly in the Army,” said Warrant Officer Sean Roddick, winner of the Warrant Officer category and automotive maintenance warrant officer serving with 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. “They’re use-or-lose skills and mastery over them separates you from your peers as a Soldier.”
According to some of the challengers, honing those basic skills is the key to success in Blackjack Warrior.
“The goal is to beat the standard, do everything I know how to do, and do it right,” said 1st Lt. Jacob Studdard, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 4-5 Air Defense Artillery Regiment. “Even if your best isn’t as good as someone else’s, as long as you’re continually getting better, that’s all you can really ask for.”
While the competitors are expected to succeed and excel on their own merits, ultimately, the competition boils down to teamwork.
“Teamwork is an important part of being the best Soldier because you need to be able to effectively communicate with your team to get the mission done; we work better in groups, not as a single unit,” said Azcona.
“There’s a lot of different characteristics about what defines the best warrior,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry Jacobitz, command sergeant major, 32d AAMDC. “Really what we want to see are Soldiers that build cohesive teams and are disciplined, physically fit and well trained.”
The previously mentioned winners, Staff Sgt. Azcona and Warrant Officer Roddick, are joined by officer of the year 1st Lt. Sean Kirchner, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, NCO of the year Sgt. Brandon Cormier, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade and Soldier of the year Spc. Ryan Carter 11th ADA BDE.
However, claiming the title of Blackjack Warrior is just the first step of many for the Best Warrior challengers who have their work cut out for them going forward.
“The next step for the winners of Blackjack Best Warrior is to go on to FORSCOM,” said Jacobitz. “Whoever wins our Solider and NCO of the year will go on to compete and represent our command at the FORSCOM level.”

• Date Taken: 05.17.2021
• Date Posted: 05.17.2021 18:41
• Story ID: 396626
• Location: EL PASO, TX, US