CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - Five Soldiers and four non-commissioned officers from across the 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command gathered here to compete for the title of Best Warrior, March 10-14.
The warriors in the competition represented the 38th Regional Support Group, the 55th Sustainment Brigade, the 165th Quartermaster Group, the 310th ESC Headquarters and Headquarters Company, the 359th Transportation Battalion, and the 643rd Regional Support Group.
The first day of the BWC consisted of the Army Physical Fitness Test, an appearance in front of a board of command sergeants major, a written exam, an essay, a mystery event, and night land navigation.
"The board was tough," said Spc. Richard Peterson of the 1001st Quartermaster Company, representing the 643rd RSG and that unit's Soldier of the Year runner-up.
The first day was only the beginning; the second began with rifle zeroing and qualification in cold, windy snow.
After the range, the competitors took part in a number of warrior tasks: evaluating a casualty, nine-line medical evacuation and responding to unexploded ordnance.
Once the warrior tasks were completed, the competitors prepared for a 6.2-mile road march, carrying a 35-pound rucksack.
"The most physically demanding event was the ruck march, as it takes everything out of you," said Pfc. Margaret Byers of the 310th ESC, Indianapolis. "You have the ruck, and then you have to walk as well."
The third day of the BWC continued with day land navigation, the second mystery event, capped off with a combatives tournament.
"The day land navigation was the toughest," said Spc. Kurtis Walther of the 410th Signal Company, Fort Belvoir, Va. "It was thick out there, a lot of ups and downs."
After the combatives tournament, the competitors spent the last night resting in preparation for the award ceremony the following morning.
"I loved the competition," said Spc. Kiarra Stokes of the 302nd Transportation Company, Fort Belvoir, Va. "I learned a lot; it was a little challenging, but it was a great learning experience."
Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Richter, 310th ESC G-3 sergeant major, praised the Soldiers and NCOs who took part in this year's competition.
"You all did great," Richter said. "The competition was so close that it came down to the combatives tournament."
In the end, however, only one Soldier and NCO would take the title of Best Warrior.
Sgt. Nicholas Wills of the 758th Ordnance Company, Columbus, Ohio, placed first in the NCO category, along with Walther, who placed first in the Soldier category.
The winners go on to represent the 310th ESC at next month's Best Warrior Competition at the 377th Theater Sustainment Command.
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