Georgia Army National Guardsmen locate their navigation points prior to the land navigation event during the 2020 78th Troop Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 20, 2020. The land navigation event tests the Soldier’s ability to locate and travel to a designated location in a tactical environment.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

Georgia Army National Guardsman Sgt. Joshua Nicoli, a light wheel mechanic with the Fort Gordon-based 1148th Transportation Company, leaps across the trench obstacle during the individual movement techniques event at the 2020 78th Troop Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 20, 2020. Soldier’s performed various movement techniques while navigating numerous obstacles through the course.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

Georgia Army National Guardsman Spc. Samantha Jackson, a logistics specialist with the Tifton-based 110th Combat Service Support Battalion, engages targets during the individual weapon qualification event at the 2020 78th Troop Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 21, 2020. The Guardsmen engaged various targets from 50 to 300 meters away from three separate firing positions.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

Georgia Army National Guardsman Sgt. Courtney Gray, a light wheel mechanic with the Kennesaw-based 277th Maintenance Company, conducts the Leg Tuck event during the Army Combat Fitness Test event at the 78th Troop Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 19, 2020.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

A Georgia National Guardsman with the Marietta-based, 78th Troop Command, runs a portion of the brigade’s 12-mile road march event during the Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 19, 2020. The 12-mile road march event test’s a Soldier’s overall endurance to carry loads over a long distance.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

Georgia Army National Guardsmen, Brig. Gen. John T. Gentry, commander of the Marietta-based, 78th Troop Command and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Locke, brigade senior enlisted advisor, award the 78th Troop Command's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year to Sgt. Joshua Nicoli and Spc. Samantha Jackson at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 22, 2020.

Georgia Army National Guardsman Spc. Samantha Jackson, a logistics specialist with the Tifton-based, Headquarters, 110th Combat Service Support Battalion sprints the last leg of the individual movement techniques event at the 2020 78th Troop Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 20, 2020. Soldier’s performed various movement techniques while navigating numerous obstacles through the course.

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

The Georgia Army National Guard's Marietta-based 78th Troop Command completed its brigade-level 2020 Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 18-22, 2020.

Sergeant Joshua Nicoli, a light-wheel maintenance noncommissioned officer, and Spc. Samantha Jackson, a unit logistics specialist, was named the 2020 NCO and Soldier of the Year. Both Soldiers are assigned to the Tifton-based 110th Combat Service Support Battalion. They will advance to the Georgia Army National Guard 2020 Best Warrior Competition scheduled in April at Fort Stewart.

Nicoli and Jackson completed five days of physically and mentally challenging events. These events ranged from written essays and in-person board appearances to land navigation, weapons qualifications, and a modified Army Combat Fitness Test, which the Soldiers completed before moving directly into a timed 12-mile road march.

"This week has been the most challenging thing I've done so far in my career," said Nicoli. "It was great to do things that we can't normally do on drill weekends."

High rainfall amounts and unusually cold weather at Fort Stewart the week of the competition added to the difficulty of the event.

"I have never crawled through so much water in my life," said Jackson. "Most of the obstacles during the individual movement technique lane were underwater."

Evaluating military tasks stresses the importance of training. It reinforces every Soldier has the mission to close with and engage the enemy, regardless of their occupational specialty.

"This week has shown me the importance of maintaining my fitness and the importance of Army training," said Sgt. Eric Vogel, a musician with the Marietta-based, 116th Army Band. "It's a perishable skill that needs to be trained repeatedly."

Winners of the state Best Warrior Competition will advance to the National Guard Regional Best Warrior with the opportunity to compete at the Army-level BWC. Georgia has a successful track record, sending Soldiers and NCOs to national level competitions in the last two of the previous three years.