FORT SILL, Okla., Feb. 23, 2018 -- The 31st Air Defense Artillery "Archer" Brigade conducted its Archer Warrior competition Jan. 23-25, to determine the brigade's best junior enlisted and noncommissioned officer Soldiers.

Spc. Caleb Tripp, A Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd ADA, won the Soldier category and Sgt. Andrew Buckley, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA, won the NCO category.

The competition tested Soldiers and NCOs in basic Soldier skills with the goal of earning the chance to represent the brigade in the upcoming Fires Center of Excellence Best Warrior Competition.

Three junior enlisted Soldiers and two NCOs competed for the honor to represent the brigade. The chosen few had to meet specific requirements to compete.

Day one of the competition consisted of an Army Physical Fitness Test, an Army combatives competition and a written essay.

Day two called for the Soldiers to complete a 12-mile ruck march, a land navigation course and lanes intended to test warrior tasks and battle drills.

The competition concluded on the third day with a formal board designed to test the competitors' knowledge relating to military regulations and procedures. The strenuous competition challenged participants to prepare and demonstrate their potential under pressure.

Staff Sgt. Galen Corbell, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st ADA Brigade, coordinated the competition and was impressed with the preparedness of the competitors.

"These guys showed up ready to compete. They really put their hearts into it," Corbell said.

He identified the combatives match between Pfc. Sean Bell, B Battery, 3rd Battalion, 2nd ADA; and Spc. Blaine Reclosado, B Battery, 5th Battalion, 5th ADA; as the highlight of the competition.

Tripp, who is from Stilwell, Okla., finished first on the 12-mile ruck march with a time of 2 hours, 45 minutes.

While the specialist found the march to be both "mentally and physically tough," Tripp said he enjoyed the difficulty.

He added that the march was both the worst and his favorite part of the competition.

"I like a challenge," he said.

Tripp and Buckley will represent the brigade in the Fires Center of Excellence Best Warrior Competition, Feb. 22-23.