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CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. – After four days of physically demanding tasks, mental challenges, and military skill assessments, a cavalry scout and infantryman earned top honors in this year’s New York Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition.
Spc. Christian Habecker, a member of Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, took the Best Warrior title in the junior enlisted category. The 21-year-old Habecker, enlisted in the Army in 2023 and lives in Houghton, N.Y.
In civilian life Habecker works as a powerline tree trimmer.
Staff Sg. Alejandro Sanchez Mendez, who is assigned to Charlie Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, was named Best Warrior in the non-commissioned officer category.
Sanchez Mendez, age 40, is a resident of Brooklyn and enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in 2018.
He is graduate of the Army Mountain Warfare School at Camp Ethan Allen, Vermont, and the Brazilian Jungle Warfare School International Jungle Operations Course. He completed the French Desert Commando Course and the Norwegian Foot March while deployed to the Horn of Africa with
Joint Task Force Wolfhound in 2022-2023.
In civilian life, Sanchez Mendez is a carpenter. In 2021, he received the American Legion Spirit of Service Award for his volunteer efforts to help rebuild homes and schools destroyed in natural disasters.
The two will represent New York at the northeast states regional competition to be held in in Pembroke, New Hampshire from May 19 to 23. The winners there will compete at the national level for best in the Army National Guard.
In 2024, New York Army National Guard Sgt. Peter Fillion, who is also a member of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry, won the national Best Warrior competition in the junior enlisted category.
Habecker said the competition gave him a clearer sense of his limits—and how far he could go beyond them.
“I came in wanting to challenge myself, and I definitely did,” he said. “Winning is an honor, but just getting through the week with this group was something to be proud of. I’m excited to represent New York at the next level.”
Sanchez Mendez said the event was a reminder of why training matters.
“This competition brings out the best in everyone,” he said. “No matter where you place, you come out of it sharper, more focused, and more connected to the team.”
The annual event brought together eight Soldiers—including two from Sweden—who competed in a series of rigorous events designed to test their readiness, resilience, and core soldiering skills.
Over the course of the week, participants tackled day and night land navigation, a simulated weapons qualification course, a multi-event firing range, and a task-based round-robin covering everything from casualty care to tactical movement.
Each also stood before a board of senior enlisted leaders to test their knowledge, bearing, and professionalism.
The competitors also competed to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge. This test, administered by German officers assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, included a 100-meter swim, pistol qualification, a timed sprint, flexed arm hang, and a 12-mile ruck march under full load.
Fillion, the 2024 Best Warrior Winner, took part in this event, where he won the gold medal, according to Sgt. 1st Class James Monetsano,the Best Warrior NCOIC.
Six Soldiers represented units across New York. They won their battalion competitions before competing at the brigade level for the right to compete statewide.
Sgt. Alexandro Dierdonne, a member of Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Regiment, said he had been looking forward to the competition.
“It is definitely a goal to strive for, winning the Best Warrior,” he said.
Other competitors in the 2025 Best Warrior Competition were:
• Spc. Brian Ciarlante, a member of the 1108th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
• Staff Sgt. Daulton Bull, a member of the 1108th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
• Sgt. David Amendola, a member of the 442nd Military Police Company
The other two competitors — Swedish Army Pvt. Jesper Andersson and Cpl. Simon Drie Runnander—members of Sweden’s First Brigade, took part in the event as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program
The program, launched in 2024 between New York and Sweden, aims to strengthen multinational collaboration and improve operational readiness through shared training.
“This has been one of the toughest training experiences I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding,” said Drie Runnander. “Working side by side with American Soldiers pushed me outside my comfort zone. I’ve learned a lot that I’ll take back to Sweden.”
Stephanie Butler assisted with this story.
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