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OKLAHOMA CITY – Guardsmen from across the Oklahoma Army National gathered to compete for the title of Mechanic of the Year at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 and Feb. 10, 2026.
The annual Mechanic of the Year competition brought together full-time and drill-status mechanics from across the state, competing separately in a showcase of skill and expertise.
“We expose them to the network of maintainers that are here,” said Maj. Suzanne Bare, superintendent for the Oklahoma Army National Guard Combined Support Maintenance Shop. “They get to come in and meet people that are technical experts on certain pieces of equipment, like the [Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station], the KC, things that they see often but they don't get to put hands on.”
Soldiers took part in a series of stations designed to test their skills in diagnostics, technical proficiency, including electrical circuits, measuring and inspection, and the use of the Army’s maintenance management system.
These stations aimed to simulate accurate challenges that mechanics would face in both field and shop settings, reinforcing the critical skills needed to keep military equipment operational.
“People come in with the notion that today is about proving you wrong, but I want to tell you that it’s really about proving you right,” Bare said. “We want you to come in and see that even though you don't know...we have the people that do, so let's learn it together. The more that we can learn while we're here, the better we are.”
The event also served as an opportunity for Guardsmen to connect with peers, exchange knowledge, and strengthen their professional network.
“These Soldiers get to really focus on their skill set, and learn and solve the problems,” said Lt. Col. Seth Urbanski, state surface maintenance manager, OKARNG. “It really gives them a chance to focus on those skills and probably the biggest thing is that they begin to build those networking relationships. Everyone knows the National Guard is very small, so these Soldiers will be in contact with different Soldiers from different units and hopefully create some cross collaboration for future operations.”
The event also provided a platform for maintainers to discuss challenges and solutions in a supportive environment. While competition was a key element, the ultimate goal was continuous improvement and professional development.
“Maintenance is not just for mechanics,” said Bare. “Maintenance is for formations. It is for everyone in that formation.”
2026 Mechanic of the Year Competition Results:
Mechanic of the Year - Full-Time Sgt. David Lovely - Combined Support Maintenance Shop
Mechanic of the Year - Traditional Guardsmen: Sgt. Christopher Woods - Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Combat Team
First Place Team - Full-Time Field Maintenance Shop Three 1st Sgt. Jason Bellar Master Sgt. Grant Howell Staff Sgt. Zuriel Bustos Sgt. Brian Stuart
First Place Team - Traditional Guardsmen: F Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Combat Team Sgt. Michael Laun Spc. Christian Alford Spc. Qi Chen Spc. Oscar Gonzalez
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 02.11.2026 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 557931 |
| Location: | NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition, by SGT Haden Tolbert, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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