Photo By Pfc. Makayla Panzer | Spc. Adam Andrews (left), a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company,...... read more read more
PEMBROKE, N.H. - Sgt. Kristopher Piwowarczyk, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard and Spc. Adam Andrews, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, Rhode Island Army National Guard, were named Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively, after the Region I Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition (RBWC), May 23, 2025, here at the Edward Cross Training Center.
The four-day competition spanned from May 20-23, covering various challenging events across the state of New Hampshire. 15 winners from their respective states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, advanced to the regional competition.
“I wasn’t competing against other competitors,” said Piwowarczyk. “The only thing I was up against was myself. I asked myself how I could perform at my highest level, and learned from past weaknesses and failures.”
The first test of soldiers’ mental and physical capabilities began here before sunrise with an Expert Physical Fitness Assessment. This event included long distance running, sprinting, high crawling, carrying multiple weights, and body-weight exercises. Soldiers had 30 minutes to complete all seven exercises, which was successful for all.
With only an hour to shower, change and eat, soldiers quickly prepared for their appearance board and written exams. A panel of state command sergeant majors from across the region assessed the competitors on their composure, dress uniform presentation, and knowledge on military standards and current events.
“Challenges like this are important, because it enables soldiers to familiarize themselves with their senior noncommissioned officers,” said State Command Sgt. Maj. William Ferland, New Hampshire Army National Guard (NHARNG). “Those senior noncommissioned officers can easily identify strong traits of a soldier, and that enables them to mentor them and push that individual to better themselves, even when it seems that soldier doesn’t need it.”
After their examinations, soldiers were able to focus on weapons familiarization in the afternoon, with a tour of the SIG-SAUER and Wilcox factories.
With a bit of weapons familiarization under their belt, soldiers spent the entirety of day two working with the SIG-SAUER M16 rifles and M17 pistols, with marksmanship events that required soldiers to engage targets at multiple distances under time constraints at the SIG-SAUER Academy and Experience Center in Epping. Soldiers began at a 300 meter range, slowly advancing toward their targets between high-speed 10 second iterations, with a final distance of 50 meters.
Following this marksmanship event was the stress shoot event, where soldiers sprinted 100 meters and quickly grabbed their M16 rifle, loaded a magazine and rushed into SIG SAUER’s 270-degree range, a shelter that has targets on both sides. As the clock ran out, competitors showcased their adaptability and efficiency under physical pressure.
The land navigation event started in the early mist on day three of the competition. After a two-hour bus ride, soldiers finally arrived at White Mountain National Forest, where they conducted the land navigation event in rainy conditions in the Crawford Notch of White Mountain National Forest, an area surrounded by multiple mountains towering over 4,000 feet. Without the aid of electronic navigation systems, soldiers were given 5 points and 4 hours. This proved to be much more challenging than anticipated, as with difficult terrain, well hidden points, rainfall, and temperatures in the 40’s, none of the competitors were able to find all five points.
“The most difficult event was land navigation,” said Andrews. “The terrain was steep, there was thick foliage, and the site had never been used before. Having to manage all that with rain obstructing my equipment, I really had to rely on the skills and tactics that were passed down to me.”
The day was not over yet, with a mystery event in Littleton, consisting of a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear challenge, where soldiers were assessed on their ability to dawn and doff their chemical protective masks and suits in a timely manner under a simulated gas threat.
“To prepare myself for this competition,” said Pfc. Nieve Boulter, a forward observer with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 197th Field Artillery Brigade, NHARNG. “I amplified my workout routine, studied numerous Army tasks, and practiced weapons assembly in case it was a possible mystery event.”
The final day of the competition began in the forested neighborhood of Strafford at the Regional Training Institute. Competitors set off on a 12-mile foot march, running down the road with 35-pound rucks in consistent rainfall.
Piwowarczyk, who won first place in the event with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 58 seconds, said it was his most challenging event.
“Your mind wants to give up first,” said Piwowarczyk. “But, if you’re mentally strong, then you can push past your own limits. You have to control the pain that is happening in your mind.”
To finish the competition, fatigued soldiers conducted a warrior tasks event, where they conducted land navigation, medical evacuation, and tactical casualty care in a simulated combat area immediately after completing their road march.
After four days of close competition, Andrews and Piwowarczyk were awarded with Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year.
As a finishing touch, coordinator of the RBWC, Sgt. 1st Class John Nedeau, a maintenance support team section chief with Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, NHARNG, was awarded the Army Accommodation Medal for his excellence in planning and organizing this year’s competition.
This was the first year Nedeau hosted the RBWC, but he has been a part of ten state and regional Best Warrior competitions as a sponsor, competitor and organizer.
“I love doing this event,” said Nedeau. “It’s really great to see everyone compete, and to be a part of it.”
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2025 16:42 |
| Story ID: | 498877 |
| Location: | PEMBROKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, US |
| Web Views: | 174 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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