Photo By Staff Sgt. Jon Soles | Pfc. Randall Reinink, a parachute rigger assigned to the 824th Quartermaster Company,...... read more read more
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – A parachute rigger assigned to the 824th Quartermaster Company is staying motivated and forging the future of his career thanks to the Army’s annual Best Warrior Competition.
At this time last year ago, Pfc. Randall Reinink, a 19-year-old heavy airdrop supply rigger and native of Lillington, N.C., was in Advanced Individual Training at Fort Lee, Va., learning his military occupational specialty. Just one year later, he has claimed the top prize along with a non-commissioned officer in the Best Warrior Competition of the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, and went on to compete in the 377th Theater Support Command competition, where he finished third.
Reinink’s rise to the top began by beating out Soldiers at the battalion and brigade level’s Best Warrior Competition to compete in the 143rd ESC competition at Fort Blanding, Fla., March 4 to 6, 2013. He said the contest only whet his appetite to take every opportunity available in the Army Reserve – from training to friendly competition.
“It helped me challenge myself to see where I am in the Army, what skills I need to improve on and to test myself against other soldiers with the same drive and passion,” he said. “I also want to advance my military career.”
Reinink said his entrance into the Best Warrior Competition happened by chance one day in the rigger shed of the Fort Bragg, N.C., based 824th QM. Comapny.
“In December [2012] our platoon sergeant asked who wanted to be part of the Best Warrior Competition,” he said. “I didn’t even know what that was, but it just sounded ‘Hooah’ so I raised my hand.”
He prepared for the Best Warrior Competition at the 824th with weapons qualification, a ruck march, a physical training test and a “mystery” event which turned out to be breaking down an M16A2 rifle.
Reinink went on to the next level of competition held at Fort Jackson, S.C., where he again took the physical fitness test, weapons qualification and appeared before a board where he had to answer a variety of questions of Army related subjects.
The competition intensified at Camp Blanding, where Soldiers were given physically and mentally challenging tasks including land navigation, weapons qualification, another physical fitness test, the Air Assault obstacle course and another round of questioning. After winning the competition in Florida, Reinink went on to the 377th TSC Competition at Camp Shelby, Miss., where he claimed second-runner up.
He credits the leadership of the 824th QM Co. with helping prepare him for the Best Warrior Competition and for challenging him to do more with his Army career. “They have really set me up for success,” he said. “It’s a good unit and I’m happy as a rigger.”
Capt. Ted Mataxis, commander of the 824th QM Co., said Reinink’s desire to compete makes him a standout early in his Army career. “For him to compete in three Best Warrior competitions says a lot about him,” said Mataxis.
When not in uniform, Reinink is a full-time student at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. After earning a degree in criminal justice, he plans to submit a packet for Officer Candidate School, go on active duty and join the Army Special Forces.
Reinink said the early lessons in his short time in the Army Reserve have taught him that challenges such as Best Warrior Competition provide motivation and training to be a better soldier.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2013 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 107372 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | LILLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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