Photo By Spc. Andrew Crowl | A Mobile Kitchen Trailer used to support the 2024 National Guard Bureau Region II Best...... read more read more
BALTIMORE — For the first time in four years, the Maryland Army National Guard hosted competitors from five states and one district for the 2024 National Guard Bureau Region II Best Warrior Competition, a four-day competition consisting of 18 events spanning from eastern Maryland to West Virginia from May 7 - 10, 2024.
Competitors represent a state National Guard organization from Region II, which includes Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. No matter where the competitors hail, the MDARNG’s support elements were dedicated to helping them get through this grueling competition with some training, transportation, and warm meals.
“Coming out here [to Sideling Hill Creek State Park], serving the Soldiers and being able to provide a quality hot breakfast and dinner has been very gratifying for me and my team,” said Staff Sgt. David Grove, a cook and culinary specialist with the 911th Field Feeding Platoon, MDARNG. Grove also mentioned that the 911th FFP is a relatively new unit to the MDARNG and the vision for its creation is to bring all the cooks and culinary specialists in the state together to train and support the organization as needed.
The culinary staff supplied the competitors with two hot meals a day via a mobile kitchen trailer, capable of preparing and serving the full range of rations in the Army inventory for up to 300 personnel. Additionally, competitors took flights for rapid transport thanks to the 29th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, which flew the Soldiers to various locations throughout Maryland and West Virginia.
"Support personnel play a vital role in the success of an event and helping the competitors perform at their best," said Sgt. Maj. James Fleming, plans, operations and training sergeant major for the Maryland Army National Guard. “From the culinary staff and vehicle drivers to the logistics teams and helicopter transport, the support staff is a pillar, and I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of our support personnel.”
The Maryland competitors, Staff Sgt. Alexander Wilkinson-Johnson, and Spc. Jordan Foster, both intelligence analysts, received training from subject matter experts assigned to the Recruiting Retention Battalion, the 70th Regiment Regional Training Institute and the Special Operations Detachment - OTAN/NATO. Some of the training received included board preparation, which tests Soldiers' knowledge of Army regulations, customs and courtesies, battle drills, medical training, land navigation, and more.
“Coming from the military intelligence community, they [MDARNG Competitors] stepped up into a whole new realm of training, showing impeccable physical and mental propensity in getting through a rigorous training schedule," said Chief Warrant Officer Marko Choma, operations warrant officer assigned to SOD-O, MDARNG. "They worked 5 days a week, nonstop, conducted two PT sessions a day, trained in many disciplines, finished multiple long-distance ruck marches, and completed some lengthy land navigation courses crossing rivers knee-deep in depth. These guys put in long hard hours of training and never complained. They absorbed the instruction like a sponge soaks up water.”
The collective efforts of the Subject Matter Experts (SME) culminated in two weeks of training with the Maryland competitors.
“I was extremely impressed with how the trainers were able to volunteer their time on short little bits without any hesitation,” said Choma. “Everybody came out of the woodwork to support these guys. From issuing supplies to weapons to driving long distances to accommodate the Soldiers wherever they were located.”
The 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment played a pivotal role in supporting the competition by providing the full spectrum of public affairs services. The MPAD facilitated media coverage, captured photographs and videos, developed engaging social media content and designed graphics to highlight the participants' efforts.
“The Region II Best Warrior Competition has been a great opportunity for the Soldiers of the 29th MPAD to test their public affairs skills while also having the freedom to be creative," said Maj. Erica Mitchell, 29th MPAD commander. "This unique experience to support a competition like BWC has been invaluable to not only the competitors but all of us in a support role."
The MDARNG also received international support from the Estonian Defense Force, with Estonia being its state partner in the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, by staffing the mystery task lanes on day one of the competition at H. Steven Blum Military Reservation in Glen Arm, Maryland, on May 7, 2024. Additionally, they staffed the mystery task lane during day three at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, on May 9, 2024.
“Sustainment is a crucial aspect of the competition, and the support personnel's efforts are essential in ensuring that the competitors have what they need to perform at their best,” said Master Sgt. David Bures, operations non-commissioned officer in charge of the R2BWC. “Without them, the competitors would be unable to focus on the tasks at hand, and their physical and mental performance would suffer. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of our support personnel, and I know that their efforts will help our competitors showcase their skills and abilities to the Army and the world."
The Region II Best Warrior Competition winners will advance to the National Army Best Warrior Competition, an annual event that tests the physical and mental abilities of Soldiers from across the United States Army. The competition is designed to identify the best enlisted Soldier and non-commissioned officer. The competition consists of a series of grueling events that test the competitors' tactical and technical skills, as well as their physical fitness and mental toughness. The Best Warrior Competition aims to showcase the Army's best Soldiers and recognize their dedication, skill, and commitment to serving our country.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2024 18:49 |
| Story ID: | 470874 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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