Thursday, October 9, 2014
What is it?
The Best Warrior Competition is a professional development opportunity which promotes espirit de corps and recognizes Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos and represent the Force of the Future. This annual competition names the Department of the Army’s Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year.
Why is this important to the Army?
The BWC is used to promote morale and cohesion within the participating commands and provides a fun and challenging way for leaders to develop and mentor their troops.
What has the Army done?
Sergeant Major of the Army Ray Chandler III oversees the annual Army-level competition which is now in its 13th year.
The 2014 Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition (BWC) starts at the company level with Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Month boards across the Army and progresses until only two Warriors are left to represent each Army major command in the final “Super Bowl” of Army competitions held at Fort Lee, Virginia.
The year-long process culminates in a four-day test of the remaining 28 Soldiers’ adaptability, creativity, critical thinking skills and physical fitness and stamina. The 28 finalists represent the Total Army – active, guard and reserve.
The competition has evolved over the years, from boards and skills tests directly from the manual, to this year’s test - which measures a Soldier’s ability to apply proficiency in warrior tasks and battle drills as well as general Army knowledge to the contemporary operating environment.
For instance, previous year’s competitions featured a modern Army Combatives tournament. The 2014 competition places competitors in a “village” where two families are arguing over their stake in contested farm land, when the situation erupts and the competitor must use his combatives skills to protect himself. Every event the competitors faced, over the last four days, required them to relate their knowledge, training and experience to real-world situations in order to successfully complete the mission.
The competition ends with a live ceremony today from 7 - 9 p.m. EDT.
What does the Army have planned for the future?
Every competitor is expected to return to their unit as a subject matter expert and provide mentorship to future Best Warriors.
The Army’s Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer of the Year who receive prestigious honors in recognition of their achievements will represent the Army at special events throughout their 2014-2015 tenure.
Resources:
Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.