The 84th TC conducts Combined Best Warrior Competition

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Story by Capt. Fernando Ochoa
84th Training Command

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 84th Training Command conducted a Combined Best Warrior Competition at Fort Knox, Kentucky April 8-11, that included Soldiers from eight different commands.

     The Best Warrior Competition is an annual competition overseen by the Department of the Army as a means of identifying and recognizing the finest Soldiers from the Active and Reserve Components of the United States Army.

     This Combined Best Warrior Competition was the qualifying event for non-commissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers from across the country. The winners from each command will advance to compete in the upcoming USARC Best Warrior Competition in June at Fort Bragg, North Carolina from June 23 – 29, 2019.
 
     In addition to the 84th Training Command, the 80th TC, 88th Readiness Division, 99th RD, 81st RD, 377th Theater Sustainment Command, Army Reserve Careers Division and the Army Reserve Aviation Command sent Soldiers to compete in this annual event. With more than 50 competitors, it was one of the largest United States Army Reserve qualifying competitions. Most qualifying competitions combine two major commands best warriors, the Fort Knox, KY combined competition brought together best warriors across eight commands.

     “This competition brings out the best in the Soldiers who compete and the willingness of multiply units to come together in one joint effort shows the strength the Army as a whole,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shanna Higginbotham, CBWC non-commissioned officer in-charge. “We designed this competition to be unique so that Soldiers who have competed in the past had new challenges, which tested their mental and physical abilities.”

     The competition consisted of numerous events designed to test Soldier skills. Among the events, the competitors endured the Army Physical Fitness Test, tomahawk and grenade throw, air assault tower rappel, M-4 rifles at the range qualification, a ten-mile road march, oral expression, military courtesy, U.S. military history, NCO creed and history and other challenging events.

     “We actually saved a lot of money by combining the commands' competitions, which made a better competition. We were able to use helicopters from the aviation command, which the competitors absolutely loved,” said Sgt. Maj. Dusty Alexander, 84th TC G3 sergeant major and CBWC organizer. “It's rewarding when the competitors finish the 10-mile ruck march and then rappel out of a helicopter. I'm very honored to be part of this challenging competition.”

     After the competition, an awards dinner was held at the Sadowski Center to honor the Best Warrior Competition winners. The 84th TC non-commissioned officer winner was Sgt. Kameron Westergren, a military policeman assigned to 2nd Brigade, Great Lakes Training Division, and the junior enlisted winner was Spc. Song Kim, a wheeled vehicle mechanic from the 91st Training Division, Fort Hunter Liggett.

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