11 WARRENTON, Ore. – With nearly 20 events on the schedule to determine the top Enlisted and Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) in an eight-state district, the Region Six Best Warrior Competition for 2021 was hosted by the Oregon National Guard at Camp Rilea, May 4-7, 2021.
Army Guardsmen from Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington took on four days physically demanding and intense conceptual challenges to determine the finalist, who will represent the region at the upcoming national-level competition later this summer.
In the NCO level, North Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. Brandon Wendland, 957th Engineer Company won, and in the Enlisted Soldier category, Wyoming Army National Guard Spc. Aiden Carroll, 133rd Engineer Company took top honors.
By Sgt. Kristina Kranz
Headquarters
CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyoming – Anticipation heated up when soldiers from the Wyoming Army National Guard started reporting for the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, Wyo., on April 8, 2021. After months of training, planning and logistics, the time had come. Soldiers, support staff and sergeants major gathered together to begin the competition.
Normally, there are around 25 participants, but his time around, only seven came to compete. The BWC is not for the faint of heart. It tests you physically and mentally. Participants are tested on their knowledge of warrior tasks and drills, everything from weapons and combatives, to land navigation. Competitors go non-stop with little sleep, moving from one event to the next with barely a break in between.
Bomgaars of Star Valley celebrates the Wyoming Army National Guard’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. (ESGR) program. Pictured, left: Briton Bommer, Stephanie Palmer, Bob Austin, AZ O’dell, Gene Bates, and JT Bledsoe.
Manager of the Bomgaars store in Afton, Stephanie Palmer, earned the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) award for her helping her employee in his duties as he serves in the Wyoming Army National Guard.
Specialist Britton Bommer works for the store and nominated his manager for the award as she is very accommodating to his busy schedule.
“The National Guard puts the schedule out there of when I will be drilling,” Bommer said. “When I hand it in, it goes to Stephanie and she juggles the schedule.”
CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyo. – Anticipation heated up when soldiers from the Wyoming Army National Guard started reporting for the Best Warrior
By Sgt. Kristina Kranz, Wyoming Joint Force Headquarters
CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyo. – Anticipation heated up when soldiers from the Wyoming Army National Guard started reporting for the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center, Wyo., on April 8, 2021. After months of training, planning and logistics, the time had come. Soldiers, support staff and sergeants major gathered together to begin the competition.
Normally, there are around 25 participants, but his time around, only seven came to compete. The BWC is not for the faint of heart. It tests you physically and mentally. Participants are tested on their knowledge of warrior tasks and drills, everything from weapons and combatives, to land navigation. Competitors go non-stop with little sleep, moving from one event to the next with barely a break in between.