Infantry and Cavalry Soldiers win 27th Brigade Best Warrior titles

CAMP SMITH, N.Y. - Spc. Donovan St. George, a member of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment and Staff Sgt. Alejandro Sanchez, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment were the first-place winners in the 27th Combat Infantry Brigade Best Warrior competition conducted October 26 to 30 at Camp Smith Training Site.

Eleven Soldiers were tested on an array of basic Soldier skills during the competition.

Sanchez, who is assigned to the 108th Infantry's Charlie Company finished first in the non-commissioned officer category.

St. George, the winner in the junior enlisted Soldier category, is a member of the 101st Cavalry's Bravo Troop.

The Best Warrior competition allows Soldiers to first, compete against others in their battalion and then test themselves against the best Soldiers in the brigade, explained. Sgt. Major Nicholas Archibald, the 27th brigade operations sergeant major.

"It allows the soldiers to take initiative, show how motivated they are with self-development and be able to represent their battalion best. It creates that competitive environment for the battalions to compete against each other," Archibald said.

The goal, Archibald added, is to find troops who can compete on a national level.

"We want to win nationals," Archibald said. "We want to get a soldier on Best Squads. We're trying to figure out who is best suited to get as far as possible [while] representing the 27th IBCT."

The New York Army National Guard's Best Warrior competition will be held at Camp Smith from April 5 to 9. The Soldiers that win there will go onto compete in the northeast region competition, and those winners compete nationally.

The events included an Expert Physical Fitness Assessment, Night-into-Day Land Navigation, a stress shoot with M4s and 9MM pistols, weapons disassembly and reassembly, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, a Non-Commissioned Officer Board, and a culminating 12-mile ruck march.

Sgt. Joshua Parrott, combat engineer with Alpha Co., 152 Brigade Engineer Battalion, said the competition was demanding but he was still enthusiastic after completing the stress shoot and land navigation course.

"It's been pretty rough," Parrott said. "It's pretty difficult, but I'm having a good time, staying motivated, and I'm glad to be here. And I've made some friends and I'm learning a lot."

St. George, the eventual winner, led the pack during the 12-mile ruck march, coming in with a time of two hours and one minute.

The Best Warrior competition gives Soldiers a chance to stand out, Archibald emphasized.

"I think the Best Warrior competition is probably one of the best ways to get recognition as far as, if you're a soldier that takes initiative and is motivated, competing in these and competing at a high level is probably the best way to develop yourself," Archibald said.

"I still rely on knowledge that I gained while competing through the best warrior competition," he added.

"And, you know, people still remember me from the days when I did compete. So, it's kind of twofold as far as networking, getting your name out there, but it's also self-development too," Archibald said.

Other Soldiers competing in the event were:

Sgt. Oleksandr Bielov; Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment (Massachusetts Army National Guard)

Sgt. Orlando Espinal; 1569th Transportation Company

Sgt. Harrison Wiwczar; Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment

Staff Sgt. Raul Santiago, Charlie Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment

Sgt. Jonathan McGovern; Alpha Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion

Spc. David Zepeda; Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment

Spc. John Kim; Bravo Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion

Spc. Brahima Bakayoko; Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment