Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)

By Marshall MasonApril 11, 2022

Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Seven Soldiers assigned to the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and its subordinate units, prepare to embark upon the quest to become the U.S. Army’s Best Warrior, March 28 through April 1, on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s Best Warrior Competition and will potentially earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. 1st Class Stephanie L. Ryan, a human resource specialist with the 749th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), performs a hand-release pushup during the 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 1 on Fort Carson, Colorado. Ryan has served in the U.S. Army less than two years, but she wanted to challenge herself and compete against the very best. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Alexander B. Clark, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the 630th Ordnance Company (EOD), 79th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), based in Fort Riley, Kansas, applies camouflage paint to his face during the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 5 on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s Best Warrior Competition and potentially earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Apolonia Gaspar.) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Andrew J. Webb, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the 630th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 79th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), based in Fort Riley, Kansas, operates an AN/PYQ-10, Simple Key Loader, during the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 5 on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s Best Warrior Competition and potentially earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Mark A. Ramirez, a human resource specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), disassembles and reassembles a M240B, a general-purpose machine gun, during the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 5 on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) Best Warrior Competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s competition and will potentially will earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon J. Litke, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with 62nd Ordnance Company (EOD), 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), fills out a Tactical Combat Casualty Care Card, during the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 5 on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) Best Warrior Competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s competition and potentially will earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Warrior Competition: 71st Ordnance Group (EOD)
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – .S. Army Sergeants, Mark A. Ramirez (right), a human resource specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians Alexander B. Clark (left), and Brandon J. Litke (center), with the 62nd Ordnance Company, 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), participate in an 8-mile ruck march, during the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day Best Warrior Competition held March 28 through April 5 on Fort Carson, Colorado. The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) Best Warrior Competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s competition and potentially will earn a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Marshall R. Mason) VIEW ORIGINAL

The search for the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command (CBRNE) 2022 Best Warrior continues in Colorado.

Seven Soldiers assigned to the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 71st Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) and its subordinate units, competed in an annual five-day Best Warrior Competition, March 28 through April 1.

The Best Warrior Competition is an event used to select the U.S. Army’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year.

The winners of the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) competition will move up echelons to compete in the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition, which will earn a trip to the U.S. Army Forces Command’s Best Warrior Competition and ultimately a chance to compete against the very best Soldiers the Department of Army has to offer.

Warriors competing for the title “Soldier of the Year” include the ranks of private through specialist. Warriors competing for the title “Noncommissioned Officer of the Year” include ranks corporal through sergeant first class.

Three noncommissioned officers and four junior enlisted Soldiers traversed the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) five-day competition, which tested the Soldiers on everything from physical fitness, technical and tactical skills, problem solving and overall combat readiness.

Command Sgt. Maj. David Silva, the senior enlisted leader for the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), is very proud of each Soldier who competed.

“Each competitor gave us their all,” Silva said. “It was a nail-biter. These Soldiers fought to the wire.”

It was only 0.8 points that separated two of the competitors out of a possible 700 points.

Sgt. Brandon J. Litke, explosive ordnance disposal technician with 62nd Ordnance Company, 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), was declared the winner among non-commissioned officers.

Litke was also promoted to staff sergeant the same day.

For the junior enlisted Soldiers. Spc. Andrew J. Webb, explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 630th Ordnance Company (EOD), 79th Ordnance Battalion (EOD), based in Fort Riley, Kansas, was declared the winner.

“I actually didn’t think was going to perform as well as I did,” said Webb. “I just did my best, but I’ll admit, it feels pretty good.”

Sgt. Mark A. Ramirez, human resource specialist for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), and Pvt. 1st Class Stephanie L. Ryan, human resource specialist with the 749th Ordnance Company (EOD), 242nd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), will serve as alternates for the 20th CBRNE Command’s Best Warrior Competition this summer in event either winner is unable to compete.

“Next stop is 20th CBRNE Command,” said Silva.