South Carolina National Guard's Best Warrior 2025 is here

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ryan Gay | A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to the South Carolina National Guard participates in an Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) during the South Carolina phase of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC) held at the South Carolina National Guard McCrady Training Center, Eastover, South Carolina, Feb. 24, 2025. The BWC is a multi-day event, organized in state, regional, and national phases, promoting excellence and resiliency in the National Guard. In 2025, the South Carolina phase of the BWC is held from the 24th to the 28th of February. Throughout the event, all participants are challenged, both mentally and physically, on critical areas of emphasis encompassing individual combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. The core-events common to all phases of the BWC are a ruck march, use and maintenance of weapons, combat medical care, marksmanship, and land navigation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Shane Gay)  

SOUTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

02.25.2025

Story by Maj. Karla Evans 

South Carolina National Guard

EASTOVER, S.C. – Twenty competitors from every corner of the Palmetto State, Colombia, and Germany arrived at McCrady Training Center and registered Monday morning to participate in South Carolina’s Best Warrior Competition. Monday Feb. 24th began four days of a series of physically and mentally challenging events as they compete to determine the next Soldier and noncommissioned officer of the year.

Hosted by the South Carolina Army National Guard, the 2025 Best Warrior Competition promises to challenge competitors on various tactical and technical skills, including weapons proficiency, land navigation, and combat casualty care. Additionally, competitors can expect an Army Combat Fitness Test, a timed 12-mile ruck march, an obstacle course, and a swim test.

“The Best Warrior Competition reinforces Soldier-level mastery of fundamentals.” said Lt. Col. Javier Yudice, state training officer, South Carolina National Guard “It’s an opportunity for units to showcase their best and brightest, earn bragging rights, build camaraderie, and for the competitors to test their mettle and grow in resiliency.”

The competition winners—one Soldier and one NCO—are named the South Carolina Army National Guard’s Soldier and NCO of the Year and will advance to the regional competition.

South Carolina will host the 2025 regional competition, where NCO and Soldier winners will represent their respective states. The states competing include South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Competitors in this year’s Army Guard Best Warrior Competition included:
Soldier Category
Spc. Austin M. Goodman
Pvt. 1st Class Ricky J. Tyler, II
Spc. Micah A. Grover
Spc. Caleb T. Schellenberger
Spc. Jackson E. Kretzing
NCO Category
Sgt. Evans A. Brown
Sgt. Jose M. Lopez-Solera
Sgt. Jordan T. Kirk
Sgt. Nelson C. Rovira
Sgt. Noah M. Boggs
Sgt. Cortland I. Shell
Staff Sgt. Joel K. Hunter, Jr.
Sgt. Kyle P. Everett

Colombia
Luis D. Cano-Lopez
Oscar A. Ochoa-Surrez
Jerison J. Camacho-Leal
Rafael Torres-Yepel
Dayana A. Rodriguez-Castillo
Ricoberto Romo-Erazo

Germany
Dean Wessel

• Date Taken: 02.25.2025
• Date Posted: 02.25.2025 18:28
• Story ID: 491497
• Location: SOUTH CAROLINA, US