Photo By Sgt. Maj. Marisol Walker | Sgt. Adison Tate conducts a final inspection over Spc. Ivan Pimentel, a human...... read more read more
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FORT MCCOY, Wis.--The 2012 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition has been described as a grueling, exhausting and challenging week. Soldiers who have competed rarely return, but Spc. Ivan Pimentel has the heart and determination for a second shot at winning the title of soldier of the Year at this year's competition at Fort McCoy, Wis.
Pimentel, a Modesto, Calif., native, returns for a second round of intense, blistering, strenuous training competing against the best of the best the Army Reserve has to offer.
“As a human resources specialist in my unit and especially in a unit like ours, I don't always get the chance to train in events like these,” said Pimentel, representing the 75th Training Division.
Competitors compete under extraneous conditions, little sleep, and the pressure and stress of the competition itself, but Pimentel welcomes the challenge.
“This competition gives me an opportunity to prove myself among the brigade, the division and allows me to keep up to par with everyone else,” he added.
Pimentel, a full-time student with a full-time job, manages to balance his time to train for a demanding competition.
“It is difficult to juggle school and a full-time job, but I have two amazing sponsors this year and we were able to manage time pretty well,” he said. “They were both pretty flexible with my schedule.”
When he thinks back on his experience from last year's competition, he remarked that it was definitely taken up a notch.
“I'm exhausted,” he said with a laugh. “This year has definitely been tougher; perhaps it's because of the heat. It's very humid.”
“There were more events total and they definitely stepped it up physically,” he added.
According to Pimentel this year he was well prepared for the physical aspect of the competition.
“I definitely improved my ruck time, despite a tougher course,” he said with a smirk. “I always feel competent in the physical fitness events the APFT and the ruck march. Despite being a shorter man, I've always been able to go fast, which I'm proud of.”
As the weeklong competition comes to its end, Pimentel manages a smile, and said, “If I win, fantastic. This is definitely fun and it's great training.”
Pimentel pauses as he thinks about whether he'll return next year if he doesn't come in victorious.
“Perhaps,” he stated. “I may come back as a sponsor if I feel it would better benefit a younger soldier. Or I might come back in a couple years for sure to compete as a NCO.”
The winners of the BWC will be announced July 20th at the awards banquet in Sparta, Wis., which can be viewed live at http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/2498 at 6 p.m. EST.
| Date Taken: | 07.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.20.2012 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 91889 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Web Views: | 221 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Back At It, by SGM Marisol Walker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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