Photo By Staff Sgt. Hector Corea | U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Scheideler, left, the executive officer of the 561st Regional...... read more read more
HASTINGS, Neb. - Fourteen Army Reserve warriors gathered for the annual Best Warrior Competition held by the 561st Regional Support Group at the Greenlief Training Site in Hastings, Neb., Nov. 9-11, 2012.
A best warrior competition is a grueling event consisting of various soldiering tasks including ruck marching, performing first aid on a casualty, weapons qualification and participating in a physical test.
While each competitor had his or her own motivations and reasons for participating in the event, all were united in the drive to win and be recognized as the best warrior of the 561st RSG Best Warrior Competition.
“I want to do my best,” said Sgt. Amanda T. Trupiano, a truck driver and team leader with the 425th Transportation Company. “This is something worth stepping up to.”
The competitors didn’t face the many challenges alone however. Each competitor was assigned a sponsor, who served as a mentor and adviser to the competitors. While they cannot directly aid the competitors in each event, sponsors contribute their time, energy, and motivation through a variety of means. Some spent long hours studying with their soldiers, and some even chose to participate in the ruck march and cheer their Soldiers through each and every event.
“This will show [the competitors] what soldiering is all about,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Mupo, Trupiano’s sponsor and squad leader assigned to the 425th Trans. Co. “Its all mental, you have to focus on completing the task.”
The 14 competitors had many opportunities to prove themselves in the multi-day competition, with the first day consisting of a written exam and a half-dozen Army Warrior Tasks.
Army Warrior Tasks are fundamental combat skills that all Soldiers must know and practice in order to fight and win on the battlefield.
That was only the beginning however, for the second day began early with an Army Physical Fitness Test in near-freezing temperatures.
“I’m here to compete so I’m going to compete,” said Spc. Nathan D. Schueth, a truck driver with the 443rd Trans. Co. and Fremont, Neb., native.
After the fitness test, the competitors prepared for a 10 km. timed ruck march course interlaced with various Army Warrior Tasks.
Once they completed the ruck march, competitors faced a land navigation event and numerous mystery events, which included rifle qualifications for each of the sponsors, as well as reciting the Soldier’s Creed and Noncommissioned Officer Creed.
“It’s more than just a ruck march, land navigation, or warrior tasks,” said Pfc. Quinton R. Cox, a native of Manhattan, Kan. and truck driver with the 425th Trans. Co. “There’s also a lot of pressure and you have to fight through fatigue.”
The day finally ended with a military board appearance for all competitors. A military board is a professional meeting with higher enlisted members who test competitors’ knowledge on a range of Army subjects.
Command Sgt. Maj. Curtis R. Weldon of the 561st RSG was in charge of the event and was the senior member on the military board.
“I’m honored to host these great competitors,” said Weldon, a native of Hiawatha, Kan. “I love to meet them when they first arrive and see them throughout the competition with their competitive desires, it’s just unbelievable.”
After their board appearance, the competitors spent the last night resting in preparation for the awards ceremony the following morning.
“The competition was fun but it took a lot out of me,” said Spc. Sean M. McDaniel, a truck driver attached to the 369th Trans. Co. and Hutchinson, Kan., native.
In the end, only one Soldier and one NCO would take the title of ‘Best Warrior’.
Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Tubrick, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic and squad leader from the 443rd Trans. Co., placed first in the NCO category, along with Spc. Matthew P. Stanford a transportation management coordinator representing the 450th Movement Control Battalion, who placed first in the Soldier category.
“[The competition] is grueling but it’s a good experience,” said Tubrick. “Win or lose, you still get to meet good Soldiers and gain experience.”
Looking forward, these two warriors will use this event as a stepping-stone and be given the opportunity to compete for the national Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition.
“The competition was extremely successful,” said Lt. Col. David W. Scheideler, Executive Officer of the 561st RSG and a Beatrice, Neb., native. “We were showcasing qualities of our Soldiers that make them the ‘Best Warriors’.”
For the 561st RSG, the opportunity to have held a BWC was a blessing.
“I’m extremely proud and honored to be part of this organization and competition,” said Weldon. “They call it the ‘Best Warrior’ for a reason, these are all of our best NCO’s and our best Soldiers.”
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2012 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 98145 |
| Location: | HASTINGS, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 319 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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