2024 Best Warrior Competition Features Pa. Army National Guard Soldiers – DVIDS News

2024 State Best Warrior Competition at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania

Fifteen soldiers from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard competed in a range of challenging categories at the 2024 state Best Warrior Competition, held at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania between April 11-14.

Challenging Events of the Best Warrior Competition

The participants faced nine demanding events that tested their physical and mental resolve. These included night land navigation, a medical event, a written exam, a mystery event, weapons zero and qualification, an obstacle course, the Army Combat Fitness Test, a 12-mile ruck march, and a leadership and appearance board.

Winners of the Best Warrior Competition

U.S. Army Spc. Ian Zimmerman, an infantryman with Delta Co., 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, from Pittsburgh, Pa., triumphed in the best Soldier category of the state Best Warrior Competition. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Stevens, a recruiting and retention NCO with Pennsylvania Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Joint Force Headquarters, from New Cumberland, Pa., won the best noncommissioned officer segment of the competition. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chad Goodhart, a cavalry scout from Mount Holly Springs, Pa., took home the Command Sgt. Maj. Jay H. Fields NCO Leadership award.

Significance of the Best Warrior Competition

The Best Warrior Competition recognises Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos, and represent the Force of the Future. The competition tasks presented a mix of physical and mental challenges, designed to assess basic soldiering skills not unique to any military occupational specialty.

Both Stevens and Zimmerman will represent Pennsylvania in the regional Best Warrior Competition in Maryland, May 6-10.

Soldier of the Year Competitors:

The competitors for Soldier of the Year included U.S. Army Spc. Nathaniel Detweiler, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; U.S. Army Spc. Alexis Doutt, PNG Joint Force Headquarters; U.S. Army Spc. Luke Shaffer, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade; U.S. Army Spc. Jacob Sharrah, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion; U.S. Army Spc. Ian Zimmerman, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

NCO of the Year Competitors:

The competitors for NCO of the Year included U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Brown, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team; U.S. Army Sgt. Jose Colon-Cruz, 213th Regional Support Group; U.S. Army Sgt. Nathan Enslin, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat team; U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jayson Reppard, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th Infantry Division; U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luther Snell Jr., 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade; U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Stevens, PNG Joint Force Headquarters; U.S. Army Sgt. Brice Vukmanic, Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center.

Command Sgt. Maj. Fields Award Competitors:

The competitors for the Command Sgt. Maj. Fields award included U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Madison Foster-Alauzen, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chad Goodhart, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team; U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven Will, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade.

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