LANDSTUHL, Germany -- The European region of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command's Best Warrior Competition is complete and the winners will now prepare to battle for the honor to move forward as the command's top noncommissioned officer and Soldier.
This third, and final, region's winners are Spc. William Ford and Sgt. Randy S. Phillips Jr., both with Company C, 53rd Signal Battalion.
"It was a very close competition all the way through," said Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Sutherland, 1st Space Battalion command sergeant major. "You all showed what a true warrior is all about. This is one of the best competitions I've seen."
While the 1st Space Battalion had responsibility for the European region competition, its members worked with Company C, 53rd Signal Battalion, to pull it off. Both battalions belong to the 1st Space Brigade headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Company C's first sergeant talked about their role.
"While we weren't slated for it, it's definitely an honor and a privilege to be able to host the competition this year," said 1st Sgt. Christopher Mann. "The nature of us being geographically dispersed doesn't always lend itself to that firsthand interaction, so it was great getting o watch these guys go at it over the course of the last three days and to have the opportunity to get to know our (Joint Tactical Ground Station) brethren within the brigade."
Sutherland thanked Mann and the cadre who made everything run smoothly and presented each a coin.
"I cannot thank you enough for everything you guys did helping to run this competition," Sutherland said. "Please accept this coin as a small token of my appreciation for you all coming out and running this for us."
Four Soldiers competed April 18-20 at Landstuhl and Baumholder: Ford; Phillips; Spc. Daniel Catts, JTAGS-Central Command; and Sgt. Andrew McCrummen, JTAGS-Europe Command. Events included a board, test and essay, Army Physical Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, weapons qualification, weapons assembly and a 12-mile ruck march.
"The most challenging and the most rewarding event would be the ruck march," said Ford. "That was an incredibly long, hard route. It was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. It was definitely an accomplishment, and I'm really proud of myself."
Phillips said the ruck was also his most challenging event.
"The ruck. Absolutely. The ruck was to the point where, 'I'm going to go in and smash the ruck,' and then it turned into 'I just want to finish the ruck.' It was rough," Phillips said. "I'm very glad it's over. I did a lot of things I didn't know I was going to do, so it was a change; it was a challenge. Everyone did great and pushed me to do better."
Ford said that winning the Soldier category was a fantastic feeling.
"I'm just glad I was able to accept the challenge and feel the exhilaration of victory, to quote Patton," Ford said. "It was a lot of fun. I had a lot of good competition. It really pushed me and pushed me above any limits that I thought I could reach. It was a really eye opening experience overall."
Mann commended all the Soldiers on a good competition.
"I have enjoyed it immensely just being out here watching these guys leave it out on the field in competition -- my hat's off to you," Mann said. "You guys are definitely the future of the Army. If you continue to compete at this level and push yourself, there's really no limitation in sight for you. Thanks a lot. I appreciate you guys."
Ford and Phillips will face off against Eastern region winners Sgt. Steven Johnson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 53rd Signal Battalion, and Spc. Devon Lenz, Company B, 53rd Signal Battalion, and Pacific region winners Spc. Ian Delp and Sgt. Nicholas Henson, both with Company D, 53rd Signal Battalion, in June in Colorado Springs for the title of SMDC's Best Warriors.
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