Photo By Spc. Chasity Williams | U.S. Army Sgt. David Schubert, a combat medic specialist representing the Fort...... read more read more
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After 28 grueling events spanning 144 hours, the Georgia Army National Guard has determined its best warriors for the year. U.S. Army Spc. Matthew Dulansky, an infantryman, representing the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard won the title of best Soldier. Sgt. David Schubert, a combat medic specialist representing the Fort Moore-based 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard won the state’s best noncommissioned officer title.
“It’s very humbling to win Soldier of the Year at the Best Warrior Competition,” said Dulansky. “We are ready to go. The next competition is in Kentucky, and I feel that this competition has prepared us for the next step so we will continue to train for Regions.”
Dulansky and Schubert will compete at the region level against Guardsmen from Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Virgin Islands. The Kentucky National Guard will host the Region III competition at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, Greenville, Kentucky and Disney Training Center, Artemus, Kentucky from April 14-19, 2024.
In addition to receiving their titles and trophies, Dulansky and Schubert received Georgia Meritorious Service Medals.
Spc. Brandon Lu, a signals intelligence analyst representing the Marietta-based 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, was selected by his peers to receive the Chad Mercer award for admirable performance during the competition. The award honors U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chad Mercer, a Georgia Guardsman who competed in the State Best Warrior Competition multiple times. Mercer died in June 2005 during Operation Iraqi Freedom while assigned to 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This year’s competition took a unique approach by allowing soldiers from the Georgian Defense Force representing the country of Georgia to compete.
The Georgia National Guard remains a steadfast partner with the country of Georgia, continuing their 30-year relationship through the State Partnership Program (SPP). Partnering with service members from different military branches and countries encourages knowledge transfer between forces.
“The country of Georgia has truly sent their best competitors, and I hope we continue to see this year-after-year, “said Command Sgt. Maj. David Creamer, senior enlisted leader of 78th Aviation Troop Command Direct Reporting Unit Battalion. “This competition allows our state partners to see what tasks we, in the U.S. Army, do and how we train our Soldiers. It also allows Soldiers to interact with one-another and understand their differences, and what they have in common.”
The award ceremony took place at Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Georgia, where the competition started on March 10. Much of the competition occurred at Catoosa Volunteer Training Site, Ringgold, Georgia.
Over the course of five days, 10 Georgia Guardsmen representing all five of the state’s brigades and major commands, and two soldiers from the Georgia Defense Force, competed against one another for the titles of Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year. Competitors included:
- Sgt. David Schubert, a combat medic specialist representing the Fort Moore-based 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard
- Spc. Koran Patterson, a cannon crewmember representing the Fort Moore-based 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard
- Sgt. James Meachum, an infantryman representing Marietta-based 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard
- Spc. Brandon Lu, a signals intelligence analyst representing Marietta-based 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard
- Sgt. Matthew Davis, a black hawk helicopter mechanic representing Marietta-based 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard
- Spc. Jourdan Thompson, a wheeled vehicle mechanic representing Marietta-based 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard
- Sgt. Ryan Maysonet, an infantryman representing the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard
- Spc. Matthew Dulansky, an infantryman representing the Macon-based 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard
- Staff Sgt. Abdoulaye Sidibe, a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear specialist representing the Marietta-based 201st Regional Support Group, Georgia Army National Guard
- Spc. Matthew Moore, a combat engineer representing the Marietta-based 201st Regional Support Group, Georgia Army National Guard
- Junior Sergeant, Paata Sabiashvili, an infantryman representing the Tblisi-based 1st Infantry Brigade, Georgian Land Force
- Corporal-Specialist Irakli Nozadze, a cannon crewmember representing the Vaziani-based 5th Artillery Brigade, Georgian Land Force
The Georgia Army National Guard’s mission is to deploy ready, resilient and relevant forces to support unified land operations at home and abroad. The annual best warrior competition increases lethality, ensures unit readiness, and recognizes high performers within the organization.
“Company, battery, troop level to battalion and especially brigade level have sent their best of the best to this competition,” said Command Sgt. Maj. John Ballenger, senior enlisted leader of the Georgia Army National Guard. “But our Soldiers know it's not just about the competition. It's all about their leadership, and their skill set within our missions whenever we are called to do so.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2024 14:55 |
| Story ID: | 466298 |
| Location: | MARIETTA, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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