Photo By Tech. Sgt. Sara Kolinski | Master Sgt. Casey Walsh, 104th Security Forces Squadron defender, helps Airman 1st...... read more read more
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Airman 1st Class Randy Burlingame, 104th Fighter Wing photojournalist, and Airman Basic Ivan Villavicencio, 104th Security Forces Squadron defender, competed in the Massachusetts Best Warrior Competition April 4 to April 6, 2019, at Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The Best Warrior Competition tests and recognizes Soldiers’ and Airmen’s physical and mental strength. The winner from each state continues on to regionals to compete against other state-level winners. Villavicencio and Burlingame represented the Massachusetts Air National Guard in the state-level competition.
The competitors were evaluated on their land navigation skills, shooting accuracy, running, pushups, sit ups, knowledge of their respective military branch, and appearance in their service uniform. In the weeks leading up to the competition, the Airmen trained to ensure they’d be ready to compete.
“Sometimes the wind chill factors were down into the twenties and still having to go ruck march, still having to go run those two miles, the push up, the sit ups, out in the elements, that was the hardest part,” said Villavicencio.
Burlingame and Villavicencio spent time with their sponsors, Master Sgt. Casey Walsh and Tech. Sgt. Shane Coakley, 104th Security Forces defenders, training and learning the skills they needed to excel at the competition.
“There are some areas I excelled in, while I need to improve in others,” said Villavicencio. “Despite all that, I’m proud of myself for having accepted the challenge.”
The Airmen prepared at the firing range and in the gym, motivating and pushing each other to do better to test their strength.
“They learned that they are capable of more than what they thought they were before the competition,” said Walsh.
Burlingame said that for him, the competition was an opportunity to push himself out of his comfort zone.
“Being a competitor has allowed me to challenge myself,” said Burlingame. “It’s hard work and I think it’s making me a more resilient military member and person.”
Burlingame and Villavicencio said that the competition took a lot of strength and perseverance, but they had a good time, and it was worth it.
“The most difficult part of the competition for me was also the most rewarding,” said Burlingame. “Things like using a grenade launcher or performing a stress shoot are not things I get exposed to in my career field. I had to adapt on the fly and am proud of my performance.”
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2019 15:07 |
| Story ID: | 317210 |
| Location: | WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, US |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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