Soldiers complete 10k road march on road to become Army Reserve Best Warrior

FORT MCCOY, Wis. -- "Forty-three Soldiers set out early on a 10k road march on the third day of their quest to be named the Army Reserve’s Best Warrior.

The competitors began the timed ruck march at 5:30 a.m., carrying a full combat load of gear and equipment in excess of 60 pounds during their trek across hilly Fort McCoy terrain.

After the event, Sgt. Sanjeet Caberwal, from the 301st Information Operations Battalion at Fort Totten, N.Y., said about the march, “I smoked myself yesterday on the land nav, so I knew today was going to be a little rough.”

Caberwal did not finish with the fastest time, but remained optimistic.

“I'm happy with the time I got,” Caberwal said. “My personal standard was 1:30; I did 1:36. I'm happy with it. I didn't finish first, but the competition isn't over.”

Joining the 43 warriors on the march was Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Schultz, who said he was impressed with the competitors.

“We've got a bunch of studs and studettes,” Schultz said. “These guys are doing a great job.”

The Soldiers competing this week at the Best Warrior Competition, held this week (June 20-24) at Fort McCoy, Wis., represent 205,000 Soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Two winners will be selected at the end of the week as the Army Reserve’s Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer of the year and will represent the Army Reserve at the Army’s Best Warrior Competition in October at Fort Lee, Va.

The Soldiers are spending a week on a variety of Army challenges that test their mettle in tests of skill such as weapons qualification, a ruck march, land navigation, Army combatives, first aid, and weapons assembly.

Their military backgrounds and experience represent the entire spectrum of the Army Reserve. Many have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Their career fields include military police, healthcare, mechanics, human resources, intelligence, chaplain assistant and engineering. They represent a wide cross-section of America, hailing from various states across the United States.

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at 5 p.m. Central time, June 24, at the American Legion Post in Sparta, Wis. The top NCO and Soldier will go on to represent Army Reserve at the Department of the Army “Best Warrior” Competition, to be held in October at Fort Lee, Va.