Army Guard puts its best to the test

Fourteen soldiers shot, swam, sprinted, climbed, crawled and otherwise negotiated their way through a slew of challenges over several days in the heat of a Tennessee July for a chance at glory in the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition.

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Spencer Fayles, a combat medic assigned to the Utah National Guard’s 144th Area Support Medical Company, learns how to tie a bowline knot during the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Milan, Tenn., July 26, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack) VIEW ORIGINAL

2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers competing in the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition jump into a pool during a survival swim event at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 25, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack) VIEW ORIGINAL

3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Spc. Nathaniel Miska completes an obstacle during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Milan, Tenn., July 26, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh) VIEW ORIGINAL

The competitors had already claimed victory in state and regional contests. Now, they were vying to win the titles of Army National Guard Soldier of the Year or Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

The competition tested both the soldiers' individual and teamwork abilities, and contained more than 30 graded events, including fitness challenges, marksmanship drills, a high-value target extraction scenario, combat casualty care, water survival and a ruck march.

Army Sgt. Spencer Fayles, a combat medic assigned to the Utah National Guard’s 144th Area Support Medical Company, shoots targets through smoke during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at the Volunteer Training Site in... — 1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Spencer Fayles, a combat medic assigned to the Utah National Guard’s 144th Area Support Medical Company, shoots targets through smoke during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at the Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma, Tenn., July 28, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Olivia Gum) VIEW ORIGINAL

2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Spc. Wyatt Walls performs a butterfly kick during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 25, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Erich Smith) VIEW ORIGINAL

3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Richard Carlson throws a practice grenade during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at the Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma, Tenn., July 27, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh) VIEW ORIGINAL

Army Spc. Daniel Reading, a Maryland National Guardsman, and Sgt. Tyler Holloway, a Wyoming National Guardsman, sprint during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., July... — 4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Spc. Daniel Reading, a Maryland National Guardsman, and Sgt. Tyler Holloway, a Wyoming National Guardsman, sprint during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., July 25, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Olivia Gum) VIEW ORIGINAL

5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Competitors take on an obstacle during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Tullahoma, Tenn., July 26, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack) VIEW ORIGINAL

Army Sgt. Fred M. Lino Jr., a small arms/artillery repairer assigned to the Hawaii National Guard's Echo Troop, Forward Support Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion, carries his ruck through a water crossing event at the Army National Guard... — 6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Fred M. Lino Jr., a small arms/artillery repairer assigned to the Hawaii National Guard's Echo Troop, Forward Support Company, 29th Brigade Support Battalion, carries his ruck through a water crossing event at the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Milan, Tenn., July 26, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Sheena Scott) VIEW ORIGINAL

7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Spencer Fayles programs a radio during the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in Milan, Tenn., July 26, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack) VIEW ORIGINAL

8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Richard Carlson and Spc. Nathaniel Miska fist-bump during the 2022 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at the Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma, Tenn., July 27, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mahsima Alkamooneh) VIEW ORIGINAL

The two who emerged as the Army National Guard's best-of-the-best — Sgt. Tyler Holloway of Wyoming as Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Sgt. Spencer Fayles of Utah as Soldier of the Year (he was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant) — will compete in the All-Army Best Warrior Competition later this year.

1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Wyoming Army National Guard Sgt. Tyler Holloway, a fire support specialist assigned to the 115th Field Artillery Brigade. (Photo Credit: Photo Illustration by Tennessee National Guard Joint Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Sgt. Spencer Fayles, a combat medic assigned to the 144th Area Support Medical Company. (Photo Credit: Photo Illustration by Tennessee National Guard Joint Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL

Army Guard puts its best to the test

TOP STORIES

Social Sharing