Skills and knowledge were put to the test last month at Fort Knox as the post hosted the Installation Management Command-Training Best Warrior competition.
Installation Management Command Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from eight U.S. Army garrisons participated in this year's IMCOM-Training Best Warrior competition April 16-19 at Fort Knox.
This was the first year Fort Knox hosted the annual competition.
The four-day competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental agility as they tackled a wide range of events, including a written essay, the Army Physical Fitness Test, written exam, weapons qualifications, night and day land navigation, a confidence course, Army warrior tasks, a 12-mile road march and an appearance board.
Sergeant Maj. Matthew Roberge said there were 11 competitors, four were Soldiers and seven were NCOs.
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and West Point, New York, each had one Soldier and one NCO competing. Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Hamilton, New York, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Rucker, Alabama, each had one NCO. Fort Gordon, Georgia, had one Soldier competing.
Fort Knox planned for one Soldier to compete, until she was selected to attend Professional Development School for a promotion, according to Roberge: "That takes precedence over anything else."
The winning Soldier was Spc. Bryce Falgiani of West Point and the runner-up was Pfc. Shaniya Hightower of Fort Sill. The winning NCO was Sgt. Justin Howard of Fort Rucker and the runner-up was Sgt. Roberge Constable of West Point.
Winners didn't have much time to rest. Roberge said the next Monday they were off to the next level of competition in Texas.
Falgiani won the right to represent the U.S. IMCOM in this year's Army-wide Best Warrior Competition.
"That is huge," Roberge said.
The annual competition, Roberge said, is designed to build "esprit de corps." He said it's not just for bragging rights, but shows what units are the most knowledgeable and qualified.
The competitions are also fairly intense for those who compete, said Roberge: "They are running constantly."
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