Photo By Staff Sgt. Marnie Jacobowitz | Spc. Keith Lewis, a behavioral health specialist with the 6253rd U.S. Army Hospital,...... read more read more
HELENA, Mont. - Spc. Keith Lewis, a mental health specialist with the 6253rd U.S. Army Hospital, Mesa, Ariz., won "Best Warrior" as Soldier of the Year during the Best Warrior Competition hosted by the Army Reserve Medical Command and supported by 4225th U.S. Army Hospital here Feb. 24–27, 2014.
“The most challenging part was the mountain land navigation event,” said Lewis , a 2005 Mesa High School graduate. “I was waist deep in snow, my water pack froze, and trying to climb up mountain after mountain without sliding back every few feet.”
Lewis, assigned to the 6253rd USAH, Western Medical Area Readiness Support Group, San Pablo, Calif., advances to the next level of the Best Warrior Competition representing the Army Reserve Medical Command competing against soldiers throughout the entire Army Reserve this summer, and upon winning moves forward to represent the Army Reserve Command in the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition, later in the year.
“While I was competing, the only thing that was going through my head was my wife telling me over the phone to win and bring home the trophy,” said Lewis, 27, a student at the American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
As a citizen-soldier, he lives by the seven core Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage - implementing each one back into his civilian job, and with the people that he meets.
“I have to work twice as hard to take care of my work, family and position in the military,” said Lewis, who works for a property management agency as the maintenance supervisor, and currently resides in Gilbert, Ariz., with his wife, Melodie.
“Not only do I give the Army my personal best … I refuse to fail myself and my NCOs,” said Lewis.
The competitors spent the four days on a variety of challenges which included, Army physical fitness test, day pushups, situps, and a two-mile run; land navigation, land orienteering, a timed road march, conducting weapons qualification on rifles and pistols; completing a written exam; performing on an Army appearance board, hand-to-hand combative tournament, tactical combat causally care, a military knowledge base test and a written essay
The competition was developed by retired Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack Tilley in 2002 as a test of a soldier’s physical endurance, military knowledge, current events and mental perseverance.
For the “Warrior Medics” of ARMEDCOM, the annual competition is an opportunity for Soldiers to highlight their military skills in a competitive environment and measure how well they perform under stress.
Lewis began this competition competing at unit-level, advancing to the brigade-level and winning at the division-level, distinguishing himself as the 2014 ARMEDCOM Soldier of the Year.
There is no rest for Lewis as he advances on to train and prepare for U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition this summer, upon winning at the major command level, he will represent the Army Reserve at the Department of the Army competition, later in the year.
The thing to take away from this experience; you think you’re ready … but you can always be more prepared, stated Lewis.
| Date Taken: | 03.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2014 15:33 |
| Story ID: | 121373 |
| Location: | HELENA, MONTANA, US |
| Hometown: | GILBERT, ARIZONA, US |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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