AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Army National Guard Soldiers with the 36th Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion competed to represent the battalion in the Best Warrior Competition on Feb. 10, 2018, at Camp Mabry and Camp Swift, Texas.
The competition included an Army physical fitness test, a formal military appearance board and a 6-mile road march.
"The purpose of this competition is to get the best Soldier and noncommissioned officer to represent the battalion in the state Texas Military Department's Best Warrior Competition," said Sgt. 1st Class Anessa Harvey, Best Warrior Competition noncommissioned officer in charge. "The Soldiers look forward to this competition and are really excited to get out there and show off their skills."
The competition started at Camp Mabry with an Army physical fitness test measuring a Soldier's overall fitness level. Participants then reported to a formal military interview board where senior leaders asked candidates questions about general military knowledge, tested their ability to follow orders and graded their overall military appearance.
Spc. Brandon Muncy, with the 36th ID HHBN Signal Company said the appearance board was an opportunity to test his attention to detail at a higher level, specifically in wearing the Army Service Uniform.
"The ASUs require a tremendous amount of detail put into them," Muncy said. "I spent at least four hours yesterday working on my uniform."
The competition concluded with Soldiers marching six miles while carrying 35-pound rucksacks to test their determination, Harvey said.
"The ruck march demonstrates the intestinal fortitude," Harvey added. "These Soldiers have been up since 0600 this morning and right now it is after 1400 and they are going on a 6-mile ruck march."
In addition to the physical fitness test, the appearance board and road march, the upcoming Best Warrior Competition will test Soldiers in events including marksmanship, land navigation, obstacle courses and essay writing.
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