CASEY, Republic of Korea - Soldiers, Korean Augmentee to the United States Army and noncommissioned officers from the entire peninsula competed in the Best Warrior Competition May 18-21 at USAG-Casey. The winner from the Soldier and NCO competition advanced to the Department of the Army Soldier of the Year competition in Washington, D.C. The winner from the KATUSA competition advances to the 8th Army KATUSA of the year competition.
Competitors were chosen by their chain of command. Criteria for selection relates to their performance on and off duty.
Spc. Christopher Clark, mail room operations noncommissioned officer in charge, and representative for Warrior Country Soldiers, was selected because of his performance in Soldier of the Quarter and other boards.
"Anytime you have a competition where Soldiers show their craft; they benefit," said Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Witt, Installation Management Command-Korea Command Sgt. Maj. "They study and they become better Soldiers and better leaders as well. It benefits everyone and our mission."
The competition required Soldiers to compete in many different tasks where each was awarded points according to performance.
Each day competitors were challenged on two or three different tasks, testing their physical and mental prowess of military knowledge dating back to their entry date in the Army, including skills learned during standard "sergeant's time" training.
"Every skill we learned and were tested on in this selection process will help us wherever we go," said Cpl. Kang Byung Kook, winner of the KATUSA Best Warrior Competition. "Despite leaving the Army (KATUSAS only have a two-year commitment), the
Soldiers compete on Casey for Best Warriormedical knowledge I learned about on how to treat a victim in pain and recognizing his symptoms, are only a few of the skills, that makes Soldiers stand out and benefit society."
The first test Soldiers took began early at the USAG-Casey Warrior Exercise Barracks May 18. Warriors answered a 25 question written exam testing their knowledge of the Army and U.S. history, including topics Soldiers would face at a noncommissioned officer promotion board.
Before the sun even rose the next day, Soldiers stood in formation about the rules of the Army Physical Fitness Test. Kang stood out overall, finishing first in the 2-mile run, with a time under 13 minutes resulting in a score above a perfect 300.
Next, Staff Sgt. Richard Reveles, Headquarters and Headquarters Company USAG-RC training NCO, gave the contestants the necessary items to execute their mission, which was to find five scattered points on the course under three hours. Despite many being tired from the APFT earlier in the morning, everyone finished the course behind Schoonover Bowl in the allotted time frame and many found the correct five points.
After each trial, Soldiers talked about the earlier tasks and how they stood compared to others.
"I would definitely say land navigation was one of my stronger points in the competition," said Pfc. Matthew Anderson, a Soldier competing from USAG-Yongsan. "And when the board comes, I think I will excel in that as well."
"It was an experience that would keep you on your toes," said Staff Sgt. Carisa Wade, HHC USAG-RC competitor for the NCO's. "You need your basic skills as a Soldier to do well in the events."
In the mean time, when Soldiers were not competing in a task; they were studying for the board or preparing for the next challenge.
Kang, who admitted he was not sure if he was prepared for every test, looked for help the first day he arrived at Casey, knowing he desperately needed an "edge" in order to win the competition.
"Sgt. John Cushman (who later was announced as the winner of the NCO competition) was a big help to me," Kang said. "I had a lot of unanswered questions when I arrived, but when we had free time Sgt. Cushman reviewed warrior tasks with me and I think his assistance helped me win this competition."
Without a doubt in any of the Warriors minds, May 20 was the hardest day on the competition schedule.
The day began at 5 a.m. in the Headquarters and Headquarters Division Arms Room where they grabbed their rifles for the day's task. They were bussed out to the range for rifle qualification.
Zeroing a weapon is when a Soldier shoots six rounds at a target 25 meters away. The target is a sheet of paper that helps align their rifle with their sights. Zeroing their weapon also is known as personalizing the weapon. Qualifications were assessed by shooting at 40 random targets from 50 to 300 meters.
After Soldiers finished weapons qualifications they were briefed for a Ruck March. The objectives of the march are to complete the 6-mile course in less than 90 minutes with a 45 pound rucksack on their backs.
"It was very tough and physically demanding," said Cpl. Kim Woo Chul, a competitor in KATUSA events from the Republic of Korea army office. "There was a limit of only 90 minutes for 6 miles and it was hard to do."
"The road march was the most difficult because I did not wear the right boots, and it caused about 30 blisters on my feet," Clark said. "But the medics did help me out."
Once the Warriors tended to their blisters, ate, they learned no competitor finished the course under 90 minutes.
Kim came in first with a time of 91 minutes, and Wade finished the course last, but was not able to compete during the rest of the competition because of heat exhaustion.
Remaining competitors continued on to Warrior Task and Drill Testing.
The test had Warriors display their knowledge about map reading, assessing and aiding a casualty, reacting to fire and nuclear biological and chemical emergencies and other emergency tasks.
The last task Soldiers performed before Witt announced the winner was the board.
Warriors, came to the USAG-Casey Digital Conference Center in their Class A uniform to answer any question Witt, and the other Garrison Command Sergeants Majors wanted to ask.
Witt began by asking each Warrior to provide their short term and long term goals, and why they believe they should be the named "Best Warrior."
"Everyone has done an outstanding job," Witt said. "All of you have gone through many months of practice, study, and rehearsal for the tasks with your sponsors and unit leadership. There are not any losers, everyone is a winner, but now we determine the best.
Witt announced the winners for the Best Warrior Competition. Cushman was selected for the NCO's, Clark for the Soldiers, and Kang for the KATUSAs.
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