310th ESC Best Warrior

By Capt. Shamika Hill ( USARC)April 14, 2014

310th ESC Best Warrior
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310th ESC Best Warrior
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310th ESC Best Warrior
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310th ESC Best Warrior
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Four Soldiers and five Noncommissioned officers battled their way through a four-day challenge to determine the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command's Best Warrior during a Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Competition April 8-12, at Camp Atterbury, IN.

Spc. Tyler Crone, with the 374th Financial Management Company, Detachment 4, and a native of Dover, Pennsylvania and Sgt. Scott Blunk with the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, a native of Chicago, will represent the 310th ESC at the 377th Theater Support Command Best Warrior competition scheduled for next week.

"I was actually surprised, I thought it was someone else," Crone said after hearing he won Soldier of the Year.

Soldiers and NCOs competed in a wide range of events meant to test their abilities as warriors in today's modern Army. Soldiers typically qualify on the Army Physical Fitness Test, the M4 rifle and warrior tasks and battle drills every year. Competitors this year also had a written essay and exam, land navigation, 10-Kilometer (6.2miles) road march and combatives.

"Hardest part of the competition for me was probably the road march…but we got through it," said Blunk.

"It was the most painful but also the best," said Crone.

Blunk added that he enjoyed the combatives portion of the competition. "It was my best event," he said.

Advice from Blunk to future competitors is to, "Train, if you do get an opportunity, don't shy away from it. It is an outstanding opportunity to compete against the best in the units around. Once you're done with it, it's a feeling of satisfaction.

Command Sgt. Maj. Virgil Akins, 310th ESC command sergeant major, was in attendance the entire week as these soldiers battled to be the best. He thanked them for their participation in the week of events.

"I appreciate you taking the time to be here with us. I know it's a week out of your lives to be away from home," said Akins at the award ceremony.

"I observed you being the best warrior, and don't cut yourself short, you are the Best Warrior," Akins said to the competitors during the award ceremony.