Photo By Staff Sgt. Anthony Bryant | FORT CARSON, Colo. – Sgt. Awwal Gbadamosi, human resources specialist, 52nd Brigade...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. — Six noncommissioned officers and six Soldiers from across post competed in the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson’s Best Warrior Competition April 23-27, 2018.
The competition included a command sergeants major board appearance, essay, written exam, Army Physical Fitness Test, ruck march, weapons range, warrior tasks and battle drills and mystery events.
After all events were graded, Sgt. Joshua Weide, combat engineer, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., and Spc. Damilare Thomas, unit supply specialist, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, were announced as the top NCO and Soldier, respectively, at the closing ceremony.
It was not an easy win by any stretch, Weide said. Weather shouldn’t always be perfect and in Colorado, weather can change in 10 minutes. The ability to cope with the environment separated the competitors in the running, and better determined the best warrior.
During the five-day event, competitors faced below-freezing temperatures, snow, hail and wind. Weide, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native, said the challengers were tough as the competition tested their mental and physical aptitudes in Colorado’s diverse weather conditions.
The mystery event — a climb up the Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center’s rock wall — was a curveball he had not prepared for in his training prior to competing, Weide added.
On the other hand, Thomas, a Lawton, Oklahoma, native, approached the rock wall with ease as rock climbing was part of his individual exercise routine.
The rock wall, APFT and written exam were all events he trained for, Thomas said. However, there was room for improvement on his handling of warrior tasks and battle drills, like Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) decontamination measures and calling for fire.
“The toughest event, physically, was land navigation,” he said. “I came in last in both (day and night) events. I’m going to work on that.”
Moving forward to the III Corps Best Warrior Competition later this year, both winners said they will allot more training time for learning warrior tasks to make the best showing possible at the competition.
“I’m going to stay fit, continue training and keep fighting through to the III Corps Best Warrior Competition,” Weide said. “I want to make sure that I set the best (example) for my Soldiers.”
“My heart was beating out of my chest,” he said when he was declared top NCO of the competition. “I am proud to represent the 4th Inf. Div. as a Steadfast and Loyal Soldier.”
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2018 11:30 |
| Story ID: | 276170 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Hometown: | SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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