Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title

By Sgt. Anthony BryantMay 10, 2018

Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
1 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Jake Miller, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, interviews with Master Sgt. Casey Nelsen, public affairs chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
2 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Awwal Gbadamosi, human resources specialist, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, interviews with Master Sgt. Casey Nelsen, public affairs chief, Headquarters and Headquar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
3 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Manuel Vera, military police, 759th Military Police Battalion, clears his protective mask, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April 23-27, 2018, to select the best candidates on post to compet... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
4 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Manuel Vera, military police, 759th Military Police Battalion, puts on the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suited Technology chemical protective clothing ensemble, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Compe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
5 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Jake Miller, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, clears his protective mask, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April 23-27... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
6 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Pfc. Latrell Scott, human resources specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, plots points on a map using a protractor, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April 23... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
7 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Jake Miller, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, plots points on a map, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April 23-27, 201... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
8 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Awwal Gbadamosi, human resources specialist, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shoots a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass, April 24, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
9 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Adrian Cruz, fire support specialist, Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, left, and Spc. Charles Conner, infantryman, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, right... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
10 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Joshua Weide, combat engineer, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, ruck marches a 12-mile course, April 25, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
11 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Adrian Cruz, fire support specialist, Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Division, fires an M4 carbine at a basic rifle qualification range, April 25, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrior Competition from April 23-27, 2018,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
12 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Jake Miller, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires an M4 carbine at a basic rifle qualification range, April 25, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
13 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Jake Miller, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires an M4 carbine at a basic rifle qualification range, April 25, 2018. Fort Carson hosted a Best Warrio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
14 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Spc. Kenneth Bacarro, combat medic, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, ties a Combat Application Tourniquet around the upper leg of a manikin during a care under fire lane Ap... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson Soldiers compete for 'Best Warrior' title
15 / 15 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. - Sgt. Awwal Gbadamosi, human resources specialist, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, calls in a medical evacuation request over the radio, April 25, 2018. Fort Carson hosted ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. - Six noncommissioned officers and six Soldiers from across post competed in the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson's Best Warrior Competition April 23-27, 2018.

The competition included a command sergeants major board appearance, essay, written exam, Army Physical Fitness Test, ruck march, weapons range, warrior tasks and battle drills and mystery events.

After all events were graded, Sgt. Joshua Weide, combat engineer, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., and Spc. Damilare Thomas, unit supply specialist, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, were announced as the top NCO and Soldier, respectively, at the closing ceremony.

It was not an easy win by any stretch, Weide said. Weather shouldn't always be perfect and in Colorado, weather can change in 10 minutes. The ability to cope with the environment separated the competitors in the running, and better determined the best warrior.

During the five-day event, competitors faced below-freezing temperatures, snow, hail and wind. Weide, a Shreveport, Louisiana, native, said the challengers were tough as the competition tested their mental and physical aptitudes in Colorado's diverse weather conditions.

The mystery event - a climb up the Iron Horse Sports and Fitness Center's rock wall - was a curveball he had not prepared for in his training prior to competing, Weide added.

On the other hand, Thomas, a Lawton, Oklahoma, native, approached the rock wall with ease as rock climbing was part of his individual exercise routine.

The rock wall, APFT and written exam were all events he trained for, Thomas said. However, there was room for improvement on his handling of warrior tasks and battle drills, like Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) decontamination measures and calling for fire.

"The toughest event, physically, was land navigation," he said. "I came in last in both (day and night) events. I'm going to work on that."

Moving forward to the III Corps Best Warrior Competition later this year, both winners said they will allot more training time for learning warrior tasks to make the best showing possible at the competition.

"I'm going to stay fit, continue training and keep fighting through to the III Corps Best Warrior Competition," Weide said. "I want to make sure that I set the best (example) for my Soldiers."

"My heart was beating out of my chest," he said when he was declared top NCO of the competition. "I am proud to represent the 4th Inf. Div. as a Steadfast and Loyal Soldier."