Photo By Pvt. Autumn Johnson | 1st Infantry Division Soldiers participate in events across Fort Riley celebrating the...... read more read more
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FORT RILEY, Kan. – U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Monté L. Rone and Command Sgt. Major Derek Noyes, command team of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, announced the ‘Year of The Warrior’ campaign during a kickoff held on Mar 14, 2025.
The Year of The Warrior event marks the beginning of the next chapter in an ongoing effort to recognize and promote Soldiers' skills, warfighting mastery, lethality, and the development of future leaders.
The event began with a division-wide run, symbolizing unity and strength. The day’s activities continued with a warrior competition at the Fort Riley Confidence Course, where participants demonstrated their grit, resilience, and physical fitness. The kickoff concluded with an award ceremony honoring outstanding Soldiers and a lunch fitting for the warriors of the 1st Inf. Div. at dining facilities across the installation, featuring cake-cutting ceremonies to commemorate the occasion.
“The Soldiers that stormed the beach at Normandy had two options; they could turtle up and die or they could continue to move forward and scale the beach and take down the enemy and win,” said Noyes.
“Those are the two choices in combat. That's what the spirit of the warrior is about. So when you move about this division you should always be thinking about what you have to do to get better. Remain fit, inspired, disciplined, trained and ready to go at any moment because you never know when you will be called upon to defend our nation.”
During the division run Soldiers demonstrated unity, discipline, and the unbreakable spirit of the 1st Inf. Div. The vibrant colors of each brigade’s guidon waved proudly, symbolizing their heritage and commitment. Rhythmic chants of their cadences fueled their
momentum. Senior leaders led the charge, setting the pace and motivating their Soldiers.
Throughout the Year of The Warrior event, Soldiers reflect on the true essence of being a warrior; embodying fitness, discipline, strong leadership, and unwavering combat readiness. The day’s activities continued at the Fort Riley Confidence Course, where Soldiers put their warrior skills to the test. With determination and grit, they tackled seven obstacles including the Confidence Climb, High Step Over, Low Crawl, Swing Stop Jump, Inclining Wall, The Tough One, and Weaving Ladder. Additionally, they faced one medical lane and two leader challenges, pushing their physical and mental limits. Each challenge reinforced their commitment to excellence, resilience, and teamwork, embodying the warrior ethos.
“My favorite part of the obstacle course was definitely the teamwork and making sure that everyone on my team got through safely and efficiently,” said Spc Brian Samuels from the 1st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div.
“I knew my team was going to win because I was confident in our abilities. A part of having a warrior mentality is knowing that you can win at anything you have to do. If you don't win you lose, so we’re always winning, we’re always first.”
The warrior mindset is essential for Big Red One Soldiers because it shapes their ability to overcome adversity, remain mission-focused, and operate effectively in high-stress environments. It is the foundation of their mental and physical resilience, ensuring they are always prepared to defend, fight, and win.
During the next year, the division will emphasize excellence by sending its top Soldiers to compete in Army-wide competitions such as the Best Medic, Ranger, and Sapper courses. Which foster camaraderie and esprit de corps.
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| Date Taken: | 03.14.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2025 15:14 |
| Story ID: | 492944 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 31 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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