Photo By Lt. Col. Anthony Deiss | The South Dakota Army National Guard named Staff Sgt. Bjorn Henstein, left, of Rapid...... read more read more
The South Dakota Army National Guard brought four of their top enlisted Soldiers and four noncommissioned officers to the Black Hills, April 20-22, to compete in the state’s Best Warrior Competition, which names the Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, respectively.
After the three-day competition, Staff Sgt. Bjorn Henstein, Joint Force Headquarters, was named the 2016 SDARNG Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and Spc. Trent Miller, 200th Engineer Company, the 2016 SDARNG Soldier of the Year.
“A great honor,” said Miller, of Sioux Center, Iowa, on being named Soldier of the Year. “There are so many top notch Soldiers within the South Dakota Army National Guard.”
The Best Warrior Competition tests each competitor’s Army knowledge, skills and abilities while adding the additional pressure of competition.
“It basically encompasses every aspect of being a Soldier - of being a warrior,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Shay, 881st Troop Command. “It tests their ability to think under pressure and make decisions on the battlefield.”
The Soldiers and NCOs were given a very brief welcome from State Command Sgt. James Hoekman, the SDNG’s senior enlisted leader, and a drill floor lined with command sergeants major before shouts of “Gas! Gas! Gas!” officially kicked off the Best Warrior Competition.
Once in their full chemical and biological protective suits with their masks on, competitors move to a Firearms Training Simulator where they engage targets with the M16 rifle. Moments later, competitors are handed a 50-question test as they board a bus to the outdoor firing range at West Camp Rapid to qualify on the M16 and M9 pistol.
Testing would continue on events ranging from building firing positions to conducting an ambush to a late-night obstacle course.
“We put them through physical test after physical test throughout the competition pushing their endurance levels while at the same time testing them mentally,” said Shay. “The Soldiers and NCOs compete in a wide variety of events, from Soldier skills to essays and tests, all designed to challenge them and make them rise to the top amongst their peers.”
The following day began with the Army Physical Fitness Test, followed by lanes testing their abilities to evaluate and treat a casualty, request medical evacuation, a timed five-mile ruck march, a land navigation course and a final event testing their familiarization with three weapons systems.
“It’s fun - it’s challenging - it works you to your extremes,” said Henstein, of Rapid City. “You learn what your limits are and how far your body really can go.”
The third day placed competitors in front of a board of sergeants major who quizzed them on a wide array of Army knowledge before scores were tallied and winners announced at a National Guard Association conference in Rapid City.
Henstein and Miller will move on to the Region 6 Best Warrior Competition next month, where they will represent the SDARNG against Soldiers from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.
“It’s a big honor,” said Henstein. “We’re representing all of the Soldiers, NCOs for me, at the regional level. It’s kind of heavy - a lot of weight of on your shoulders but at the same time it feels good to get the opportunity to represent the state.”
Henstein’s fellow competitors in the Non-Commissioned Officer category were: Sgt. Shawn Hulbert, 740th Transportation Company; Staff Sgt. Seth Fredrickson, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery; and Staff Sgt. Steven Zubko, 2nd Battalion, 196th Regiment (Regional Training Institute).
Joining Miller in the Soldier of the Year competition were: Spc. Cory Mergen, Company C, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment; Spc. Rebekah Mclaughlin, 147th Army Band; and Spc. Garrett Welsh, Detachment 1, 235th Military Police Company.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2016 16:54 |
| Story ID: | 207496 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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