REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- Eight Soldiers will compete in the 2017 Army Materiel Command's Best Warrior Competition at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, July 16-18.
This year's competition, which will name the command's top Soldier and noncommissioned officer, includes challenges that will test each individual's physical and mental toughness. Winners will be announced during a luncheon on Redstone Arsenal July 20.
AMC's Soldier and NCO of the Year will compete at the Department of the Army level competition this fall.
Meet this year's competitors:
ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND
Staff Sgt. Jared Casey is a contract specialist assigned to the 409th Contracting Support Brigade on Sembach Kaserne, Germany. He is from Hennepin, Oklahoma, and has 13 years of service. Casey has a bachelor's degree in Management Studies from the University of Maryland University College and deployed to Iraq in 2005 and 2014.
ARMY SUSTAINMENT COMMAND
Staff Sgt. Qujuan Baptiste is an automated logistical specialist assigned to the Amy Sustainment Command's Distribution Management Center on Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, and has 13 years of service. A native of Los Angeles, Baptiste deployed once in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and his interests include professional and amateur boxing. Baptiste's long-term goal is to obtain the rank of command sergeant major.
Spc. Luther Witherspoon Jr. is a human resource specialist assigned to ASC at Rock Island Arsenal. He is from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and has served in the Army three years. He has a bachelor's degree in Sports Management and is qualified in Combatives Levels One and Two. Witherspoon's long-term goal is to obtain a master's degree and become an Adjutant General sergeant major.
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING COMMAND
Sgt. Eduardo Sanchez is a parachute rigger assigned to Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. A native of San Antonio, Sanchez has eight years of service and is Airborne, Jumpmaster, Military Free Fall and Combat Lifesaver qualified. Sanchez has deployed to Afghanistan and is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Logistics Management. His interests include skydiving, motorcycles and driving his truck off-road. His goal is to be promoted to staff sergeant by the end of fall 2017, and attend the Free Fall Jumpmaster course.
MILITARY SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND
Sgt. Luis F. Cruzsanchez is a senior forklift operator assigned to the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element at Fort Eustis, Virginia. From Stockton, California, he has three years of service and is looking forward to the competition's 12-mile road march the most. Cruzsanchez's second language is English, and he hopes to also learn Japanese. His hobbies include developing computer games, and he would like to create neurological applications to help people with disabilities. He has an associate degree in Database Programming.
Pfc. Robert W.S. Nelson is a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element at Fort Eustis. Nelson has one year of service and is from Azle, Texas. In middle school, Nelson was a first-place varsity wrestler three years in a row and won the Alaska State Championship three times. He also began riding snowmobiles at age 13 and placed in the top 10 in eight races. Nelson's long-term goals include obtaining the rank of command sergeant major and earning a bachelor's degree in Business Management.
U.S. ARMY TANK AUTOMOTIVE AND ARMAMENTS COMMAND
Staff Sgt. Eric Nescio is a tank system maintainer assigned to TACOM's Materiel Fielding and Training at Fort Hood, Texas. He has 13 years of service and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom three times. A native of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, Nescio is pursuing an associate degree in Applied Health. He enjoys mountain biking, personal fitness, paintball and spending time with his wife. His long-term goals include becoming a paramedic after retiring from active duty.
U.S. ARMY SECURITY ASSISTANCE COMMAND
Sgt. 1st Class Joaquin T. Spikes is a signal support systems specialist with the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization. Spikes, who is from Miami, has 12 years of service and deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and 2009. He has an associate degree and enjoys golf and trucking in his free time. His goal is to become a command sergeant major at the NCO Academy at Fort Gordon, Georgia.
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