Army Guard Region Three Soldiers compete for Best Warrior

Photo By Sgt. Duran Jones | Twenty Army National Guardsmen from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) during the Region III phase of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), held April 21, 2025, at the South Carolina National Guard’s McCrady Training Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Hosted by the South Carolina National Guard from April 21–26, the Region III BWC 2025 is open to all enlisted National Guard Soldiers. Competitors advanced through their state to the regional competition, facing demanding military challenges designed to test their combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. On the opening day of the competition, Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and U.S. Virgin Islands completed the ACFT before moving on to knowledge boards, written essays, and public affairs interviews. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Duran Jones)  

UNITED STATES

04.21.2025

Story by Maj. Karla Evans 

South Carolina National Guard

EASTOVER, S.C. – Noncommissioned officers and Soldiers from the Southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands gathered Monday to participate in Region Three’s Best Warrior Competition.

State Command Sgt. Maj. Norris K. McCall of the South Carolina Army National Guard selected a dedicated team to plan and execute his vision for this year’s competition. Soldiers will face a rigorous schedule this week, with challenges designed to push them to their limits and beyond.

“This event not only tests our Soldiers’ capabilities and understanding but also assesses their grit in performing core army warrior tasks,” said Florida Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Pask. “Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to build interoperability within Region Three.”

For the next five days the South Carolina Army National Guard will host competition guests from North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

"The Regional Best Warrior competition is about more than identifying the top Soldier and NCO in our region. It's a valuable opportunity for Soldiers to build camaraderie and teamwork and push themselves to excel individually and as a cohesive unit," said Kentucky Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Withers. "Participants create relationships beyond state lines, built on shared challenges, mutual respect, and common dedication to service.”

This year’s competition promises to be a grueling test of skill and endurance. It features a demanding schedule of events such as night and day land navigation; a challenging obstacle course; proficiency lanes focused on weapons and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives; a 12-mile ruck march; German Armed Forced Proficiency Badge events; calls for fire; medical lanes; a combat run; and a memory challenge. Events are designed to identify the region’s most capable and resilient warriors.

“Our number one goal is warfighting!” said Georgia Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. John Ballenger. “What better place to practice the fundamentals of combat, shooting, moving, and communicating while simultaneously pushing physical fitness to the limit? The competition is a vital opportunity to test Soldiers on their core warfighting skills and instill the expectation that they’ll return to their home states and share what they have learned, fostering growth in warfighting abilities across the region and ultimately reinforcing the priority of creating highly capable warfighters.”

The Following Competitors are representing their states:
Alabama
Staff Sgt. Nathanael K. Sanders
Spc. Jaden T. Hughes
Florida
Spc. Jeston Curry
Sgt. Matthew P. Golden
Georgia
Sgt. Nicolas White
Spc. Hermes Rodriguez
Kentucky
Staff Sgt. Thomas Brian Barrett-Weber
Spc. Syrus Jay Butts
Mississippi
Staff Sgt. Cody R. Pellegrin
Spc. Jonathan A. LeFore
North Carolina
Staff Sgt. Blake T. Owen
Spc. Nathan C. Young
Puerto Rico
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Cans Rodriguez
Spc. Jesus G. Pastrana Serrano
South Carolina
Sgt. Noah Michael Boggs
Pvt. 1st Class Micah A. Grover
Tennessee
Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Wheeker
Spc. Brian Austin Hayes
U.S. Virgin Islands
Staff Sgt. Joel Dorsett
Spc. Jelani Prince

Alabama Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Elmore highlighted the importance of relationships formed during training.

“The friendships built here are important. Soldiers will recall this event not solely for the challenges they will overcome but for the character of the warriors training here,” he said.

Elmore explained how experiences build lasting bonds.

“The bonds that shared hard work, physical pain and sweat [create] endure long after the dust settles. These warriors will remember the lessons learned and the camaraderie they’ve found amongst fellow defenders of our great country,” he said.

• Date Taken: 04.21.2025
• Date Posted: 04.22.2025 00:45
• Story ID: 495823
• Location: US