Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Ian Safford | Competitors in the Kansas Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition make...... read more read more
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SALINA, Kansas – Twelve enlisted Soldiers from across the state of Kansas were chosen to compete in this year’s Kansas Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at the Kansas Training Center in Salina, Kansas, April 4-7.
The state-level competition started April 4 with 12 competitors and their sponsors in-processing and attending a brief on what to expect over the weekend.
The first full day was more eventful, starting off early with an Army Physical Fitness Test conducted in their Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform. This was followed by an Army Service Uniform inspection with a twist ending. After the Soldiers were inspected, they were given two minutes to run back to their barracks change back into their OCPs and return in time for another inspection board.
“It is something we saw at the regional competition last year that we wanted to incorporate,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Harold Whitley, command sergeant major of the Kansas Army National Guard – Land Component. “Basically it is a divided attention test designed to put a bit more pressure on the competitors.”
Those who were unfortunate enough to not be fully dressed in their OCPs were brought before the board in whatever condition their uniforms were in.
The board was unique as well. While answering questions in complete OCP uniform (or not), Soldiers had to focus on assembling three different weapon systems.
When asked how his noncommissioned officer, Sgt. Levi Turner, performed during the board, Staff Sgt. Derick Redenius, assigned to the 242nd Engineer Company, said, “I thought it was mentally straining, but I knew if he kept his composure he would do pretty good.”
After the completion of the board, Soldiers conducted primary marksmanship instruction and advanced weapons training followed by the zero and M4 rifle qualification ranges.
The last two events of the day were the mystery event and night land navigation. The mystery event contained seven different events that tested the competitors’ basic Soldier skills. Cpl. Robert Obourn from 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery said this was one of his favorite events.
“It was really fun running and gunning and completing basic Soldier skills back to back,” said Obourn. “I feel like I did really well in that event, I even passed some other competitors going from event to event, which made me feel better about some of the things I messed up on.”
Competitors had to run between all events, which included searching and detaining a person of interest, firing standing at the M4 range, combatives, assembling a M249 and M240 timed, machine gun range, administering aid under fire, and a three gun event.
The second day began with a UH-60 Black Hawk flight to Fort Riley, Kansas. After exiting the aircrafts the Soldiers were scored on their completion of the Air Assault Obstacle Course. Once finished they had a short 2-mile ruck to a staging area where two M3 Bradleys were waiting to convoy the competitors out to the call for fire range.
At the range Soldiers had to locate a given target, plot the location on their map, and call in ordinance on the targets location. For some Soldiers, like Sgt. George Brown from Bravo Company, 108th Aviation Regiment, this was their first experience calling for fire.
“This is the first time in my career that I have had the chance to perform a call for fire exercise and actually have rounds fired,” said Brown. “That was pretty cool to see and do.”
Following the call for fire event was the last event for the day: the 12-mile ruck march.
On the last day Soldiers finished out the competition by taking a forty question multiple choice exam testing them on general Soldier knowledge. Once that was finished, for the first time during this physically and mentally grueling weekend, the competitors got to finally relax.
Later that morning the competitors were honored during the closing award ceremony of the competition, where they received words of encouragement from Brig. Gen. Anthony Mohatt, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard.
“The Soldiers that come out here have volunteered to do so,” said Mohatt. “They were handpicked by their commanders and command sergeants major to represent their units. They should all be proud because they are all winners today. Not just the runner-ups and the winners, but every one of them represented their units well. So they all deserve to be proud, I sure am and we all are Kansas Proud.”
The 12 competitors were judged on their individual performances in each of the events over the weekend and finished as follows:
Spc. Mishael Redenbaugh, 130th Field Artillery Brigade - Best Soldier
Spc. Cody Pollman, 997 Brigade Support Battalion – Best Soldier Runner-Up
Sgt. Levi Turner, 242nd Engineer Company - Best NCO
Sgt. Entyse Puschzuniga, 137th Transportation Company – Best NCO Runner-Up
When asked about the win and preparation for regionals Redenbaugh said she was grateful for the support of her sponsor, Staff Sgt. Christopher Coleman, her unit the 130th FAB, and her sister.
“I’m also looking forward to what’s coming up next,” said Redenbaugh. “I need to do a lot more rucking and studying (to prepare for regionals). I will be talking to my sister to get an insight into her experiences and just start training.”
“It was an honor to come here and compete,” added Sgt. Turner. “There was a lot of great competition and it was an honor to represent the state of Kansas at the regional competition. This was a physically demanding event and I still have a lot of preparation to do to be competitive on the regional level.”
Even though there were only two overall winners, all Soldiers and sponsors who competed were encouraged by the camaraderie shown by all competitors.
“It’s fun bringing different Soldiers who do different jobs together and giving them basic Soldier task,” said Redenius. “Putting them all in a group together and seeing camaraderie between the competitors themselves. Even though they are competing against one another, you’ll see them talking, joking, and helping one another.”
When it comes to Soldiers in the Kansas Army National Guard who are interested in competing or sponsoring a Soldier, this year’s competitors and sponsors have some advice.
“Be prepared to motivate and build your Soldiers,” said Coleman, sponsor for Redenbaugh. “It’s a great event to help Soldiers see some different things in the Kansas National Guard, display their talents, and see what they are made of.”
“Anybody that is considering this competition, it’s not something that you can wake up and do, you need to prepare,” added Brown. “When it comes to physicality, it’s a whole body experience. More importantly, come in with an open mind because you are not going to win everything. There is nobody that comes to these competitions that aces every part of it. There are going to be areas where you lack and you need to use that as a learning experience. That’s the best part of these competitions, it’s a learning experience.”
“All I want them to do is give it their best,” said Mohatt, addressing this year’s winners as they prepare for the Regional Best Warrior Competition in Nebraska. “If their best is the best that any competitor gave that day and they win, that will make me very proud. It’s also going to make me just as proud if they go there and they compete and give it all they have and represent Kansas in the manner I know they will.”
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2019 03:03 |
| Story ID: | 318020 |
| Location: | SALINA, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | HAYS, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | MANHATTAN, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | SALINA, KANSAS, US |
| Hometown: | TOPEKA, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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