Courtesy Photo | Spc. Aaron Thomas completes the Night/Day Land Navigation course at the 2010 Army...... read more read more
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FORT McCOY, Wis.—Spc. Aaron L. Thomas of Pennsville, N.J., a competitor here at the 2010 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, got more than he anticipated when he decided to be a competitor. He realized Best Warrior isn’t just a competition, it’s the best training he’s ever had.
Thomas said he considers the competition as training because of the opportunity to handle equipment he’s never used before and compete in events he’s never experienced like the night fire range.
“Best Warrior has taught me leadership and basic Soldier skills,” said Thomas. “I wish everyone in the Reserve could do this.”
He’s a supporter of the competition now, but he underestimated its intensity when he was first selected as a competitor in March.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” he said. “It’s been fun, but I didn’t know it was this extensive.”
Some of the competition events included a 10-kilometer foot march with a ruck sack weighing more than 35-pounds, a board appearance, a physical fitness test, combatives, a night and day land navigation course and live fire range.
Thomas said the worst event of the competition was the 10-kilometer foot march.
“It tore my body up,” he said. “I ended the march on a field ambulance.”
He added that his favorite events of the competition were the board appearance and the written essay.
Thomas’ advice to future competitors thinking of participating in the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition is to study the Warrior Training Tasks manual at every opportunity and to practice ruck marches.
The competition can be overwhelming, but competitors aren’t left to their own devices. They each have a sponsor to help mentor them and assist in their training and military studies.
Master Sgt. Nick Amanatidis, with the Military Intelligence Readiness Command, sponsored Thomas at this year’s competition.
“Spc. Thomas is a stellar Soldier, but he’s never been able to train at events like they have here at Best Warrior,” said Amanatidis. “It’s made him a better Soldier and a future leader. He will be an asset to the non-commissioned officer corps.”
With his new knowledge and improved skills gained from the competition, Thomas plans to return home and encourage all the enlisted Soldiers in his unit to start training for next year’s competition.
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2010 18:56 |
| Story ID: | 53724 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 238 |
| Downloads: | 158 |
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