Photo By Spc. Joseph Liggio | New York Army National Guard Sgt. Peter Fillion, an infantryman assigned to Charlie...... read more read more
CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. – Soldiers from the New York and Connecticut National Guards took the top slots in the Region Best Warrior Competition which wrapped up in lower Manhattan on Thursday, May 16.
New York Army National Guard Sgt. Peter Fillion, a member of C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment placed first in the enlisted Soldier category.
Connecticut National Guard Staff Sgt. Curtis Ruckey, an infantryman assigned to the 6th Recruiting and Retention Battalion, was named the winner of the Best Non-Commissioned Officer award.
Sixteen Soldiers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont, with eight Soldiers competing in the non-commissioned officer and eight in the junior enlisted categories, vied for a chance to represent the region in the national competition later this year in Vermont.
This was the first time in 10 years that the New York Army Guard hosted the regional competition.
This year’s event took place at four different locations across New York State. They competed at Camp Smith Training Site in the Hudson Valley, ran a race on an island perched on the brink of Niagara Falls, called in mortar fire at Fort Drum, and then finished with a 12-mile forced march in New York City.
New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Edwin Garris said the goal was to create some excitement and keep the competitors on their toes.
“At the national competition there is always a surprise element where they expose the competitors to something that they aren’t familiar with such as moving them out of different training areas, so they don’t get comfortable,” Garris said. “That’s why we move them around New York, to keep them moving because that’s what it’s going to be like at the next level.”
The winners of the competition were announced at a formal dinner for the competitors, state sergeants’ majors and others at the Thayer Hotel at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Fillion said he enjoyed the competition and is looking forward to challenges of the next level.
“The competition was exceptional, and it was great to hone my skills and get higher level of training and get to call to fire on a live range was fun,” Fillion said.
“The hardest thing was forgetting all the other competitors and focus on my game and the task at hand,” Fillion said. “I really have to thank my wife and family for all the extra studying we did leading up to this competition.”
Ruckey said it was a huge relief to be named winner of the Best Non-Commissioned Officer award and that the competition was over.
“My mentors and leaders have set me up for success and to see if that compared well enough to the best in other states was rewarding,” Ruckey said.
“I’m really excited for the next level. I didn’t think I would make it this far so I’m happy that I can go to the next level and looking forward to meeting some new guys and competing with them,” he added.
The competition began with two days at Camp Smith, which is near Peekskill.
The Soldiers were tested on military knowledge, fired at simulated targets in the Engagement Skills Trainer, and conducted day and night land navigation.
They also engaged targets with the M-4 carbine, M-17 pistol and M-249 light machine gun.
After two days at Camp Smith, the Soldiers boarded a CH-47F Chinook helicopter flown by B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation, and traveled across the state to the Youngstown Training Area in western New York.
They spent the night there, woke up early, and then ran a five-mile race at Niagara Falls State Park. The park is located on Goat Island which is at the brink of Nagara Falls sandwiched between the American and Canadian falls.
After more testing at the Youngstown training area, they were flown to Observation Point 5A at Fort Drum, the home of the 10th Mountain Division.
The 16 Soldiers were tested on their ability to direct the fire of 120-millimeter mortar rounds being fired by Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
New Jersey National Guard Spc. Michael Schwyher, assigned to 104th Engineer Battalion, said he enjoyed competing with his fellow Best Warriors.
“I love competing with guys that have the same mentality of pushing each other,” he said. “And to do it here with Niagara Falls in the background is motivating- it’s not something most people get to do.”
The competition ended with a 12-mile timed ruck march at the southern tip of Manhattan.
The Soldiers hoisted their packs and raced north along the Hudson River on the Empire State Trail bike path to U.S.S. Intrepid Museum. Then they turned around and headed back.
When everybody had finished, they went to the nearby 9/11 Memorial.
Rhode Island Sgt. Jeremiah Cosme, an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, said he enjoyed rucking through New York City and fed off the energy of the people motivating the competitors.
“One of the best parts of doing the Region I competition in New York was getting to ruck through the city,” Cosme said.
“You really get a good feel of the energy of the people there were lots of people running and as they passed by, they would give some motivational words and some even kept pace as well,” he said.
“It was special and really helped us push through that final event,” Cosme said.
The national competition will be hosted by the Vermont National Guard in August at the Ethan Allen Firing Range. The winners of that event will compete in the Army-wide competition.
Garris said he was proud of the way New York National Guard Soldiers across the state pulled together to make the competition a success.
“I’m very proud of New York hosting this year and challenging the best of the best that our region has to offer,” said Garris. “I look forward to watching them all compete in the next round in Vermont.”
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2024 15:00 |
| Story ID: | 471587 |
| Location: | CORTLANDT MANOR, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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