“If you can walk around and say you're the best and people say you're the best, you better be able to go test it,” says U.S. Army Sgt. Braxton Mason, a combat engineer with the 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion, Idaho Army National Guard, competing in the Region VI Best Warrior Competition.
Mason joined the National Guard nearly six years ago to build camaraderie and give back to the community where he was raised in Hayden, Idaho. As the state Honor Guard coordinator, he regularly works with families and community members, providing military funeral honors for veterans and retirees. Mason considers his work with the Honor Guard the most rewarding experience of his military career, helping bring comfort and closure to families while honoring the service and sacrifice of others.
Through the competition, he hopes to identify areas for personal growth while building relationships with fellow competitors from across the region. Mason embraces the challenge of competing against some of the National Guard’s top Soldiers, believing, “I’d rather be the small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond.”
His dedication to selfless service reflects his commitment to his community, fellow Soldiers, and those who served before him.