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AMC announces winners in 2023 Best Warrior, Best Squad competition

By Adam SikesAugust 3, 2023

AMC announces winners in 2023 Best Warrior, Best Squad competition
Sgt. Carlos Cardona, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, was selected as Army Materiel Command's Best Warrior Noncomissioned Officer of the Year, while Spc. Samuel Thompson, U.S. Army Garrison West Point was selected as AMC Best Warrior Soldier of the Year during an awards ceremony at Fort Novosel, Ala. Aug. 1, 2023. Both competitors were also named to AMC's Best Squad. Eighteen Soldiers from across the globe competed in the AMC Best Warrior Competition from July 30 through Aug. 1 at Fort Novosel. The competition tests the Soldiers’ physical and mental strength through a variety of challenges, including an obstacle course, weapons qualifications, a 12-mile ruck march and more. (U.S. Army photo by Adam Sikes)

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. - “I think we’ve got our work cut out for us. Getting ready for the Army-level Best Warrior and Best Squad competition is something I’m really excited about – it looks like we’ve got a great team,” said Spc. Samuel Thompson, Soldier of the Year for Army Materiel Command’s 2023 Best Warrior and Best Squad competition.

Thompson was one of the 18 competitors who participated in an arduous, four-day-long competition.

The AMC-level competition is an event described by AMC Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Sellers, as “focused on the Army’s priority of building cohesive teams and bringing out the best in our Soldiers.”

The competition included a physical fitness assessment, weapons qualifications, written and oral examinations and an obstacle course. Competitors represented eight of AMC’s 10 major subordinate commands and tested noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers alike.

“[What we saw] were Soldiers challenged at every level possible using expert Soldier badge standards. These competitors were definitely challenged in mind and body,” said Sgt. Maj. Samara Pitre, who was the lead for the annual competition. “The winners of this competition have earned the right to represent AMC at the Army-wide level.”

Thompson was nominated as AMC’s Best Soldier, while Sgt. Carlos Cardona was selected as AMC’s Best Noncommissioned Officer. Both were also named as AMC Best Squad members.

AMC announces winners in 2023 Best Warrior and Best Squad competition
Sgt. Carlos Cardona, assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach, approaches the finish line of the 12-mile ruck march during the 2023 Army Materiel Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Novosel, Ala., Aug. 1, 2023. Cardona was named as AMC's Best Noncomissioned Officer and to AMC's Best Squad. He will compete in both competitions at the Army-level in September. Eighteen Soldiers from across the globe competed in the AMC Best Warrior Competition from July 30 through Aug. 1 at Fort Novosel. The competition tests the Soldiers’ physical and mental strength through a variety of challenges, including an obstacle course, weapons qualifications, a 12-mile ruck march and more. (U.S. Army photo by Adam Sikes) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
AMC announces winners in 2023 Best Warrior, Best Squad competition
Spc. Samuel Thompson, assigned to U.S. Army Garrison West Point, climbs a rope during the obstacle course portion of the 2023 Army Materiel Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort Novosel, Ala., Aug. 1, 2023. Thompson was named AMC Soldier of the Year and to AMC's Best Squad. He will compete at the Army-level in September for both competitions. Eighteen Soldiers from across the globe competed in the AMC Best Warrior Competition from July 30 through Aug. 1 at Fort Novosel. The competition tests the Soldiers’ physical and mental strength through a variety of challenges, including an obstacle course, weapons qualifications, a 12-mile ruck march and more. (U.S. Army photo by Alyssa Crockett) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Each squad consists of five Soldiers: a squad leader, which is a sergeant first class or staff sergeant; a team leader, which is sergeant or corporal; and three squad members in the ranks of specialist or below.

AMC’s squad includes:

  • (Squad leader) Sgt. 1st Class Sungkoo Jung – 902nd Contracting Battalion
  • Sgt. Carlos Cardona – Installation Management Command, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach
  • Spc. Jason Riley – Army Medical Materiel Command-Europe
  • Spc. Samuel Thompson – Installation Management Command, USAG West Point
  • Pvt. 1st Class Benjamin Heymach – Installation Management Command, USAG Ansbach

Runners-up:

  • (Alternate squad leader) Staff Sgt. Timothy Hollingsworth – 411th Contracting Support Brigade
  • (Alternate) Sgt. Brian Pacheco – Installation Management Command, USAG Fort Liberty
  • (Alternate) Spc. Alejandro Perez – Installation Management Command, USAG Fort Humphreys

Sellers expressed his appreciation to all the competitors, thanking them for their dedication and hard work throughout the competition.

“I saw a great group of Soldiers participating in one of the most important competitions we have. There’s work to do, and we’ll always seek to improve, but you should be proud of the work you’ve done,” he said.

The competition closed with an awards ceremony at Fort Novosel that announced the winners who will move on to the Army-level Best Squad Competition. The Army-level Best Squad Competition is set to take place Sept. 24-Oct. 6.

AMC announces winners in 2023 Best Warrior, Best Squad competition
From left, Sgt. 1st Class Sunkoo Jung (Squad leader) 902nd Contracting Battalion; Sgt. Carlos Cardona, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach; Spc. Samuel Thompson, USAG West Point; Spc. Jason Riley, Army Medical Materiel Command-Europe; Pvt. 1st Class Benjamin Heymach, USAG Ansbach; are named to AMC's Best Squad during a ceremony at Fort Novosel, Aug. 1, 2023. Eighteen Soldiers from across the globe competed in the AMC Best Warrior Competition from July 30 through Aug. 1 at Fort Novosel. The competition tests the Soldiers’ physical and mental strength through a variety of challenges, including an obstacle course, weapons qualifications, a 12-mile ruck march and more. (Courtesy photo) (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

“My main focus was just staying motivated to keep pushing forward, and my fellow Soldiers were just that,” said Cardona. “Being selected to represent AMC is a big honor and I look forward to the next competition.”

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