Illinois National Guard's 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade BEST Warrior Competition

By Sgt. 1st Class Marie Schult-Slosser 404th MEB PAO

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (08/11/2014)(readMedia)-- The 44th Chemical Battalion in Galesburg, Illinois, swept the brigade level Soldier and noncommissioned officer (NCO) of the year competition at Marseilles Training Center, July 27. Sgt. Chris Morris of Robinson, Illinois, and Spc. Paul Born of Washington, Illinois, both chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialists, won against six other competitors. Both Soldiers will compete against other brigade winners at the state competition in September.

"I was actually surprised that I won," said Born, after being named the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) Soldier of the Year. "I just wanted to prove to myself that I could compete with the best Soldiers in the state."

Eight Soldiers competed in 11 events during the Best Warrior Competition at Marseilles, events included weapons qualifications, physical fitness test, a five-mile ruck march, land navigation, a confidence course, a call for fire exercise; they also completed Army Soldier tasks and an Army knowledge board.

"My hats off to these guys to want to put themselves through this to represent their units and themselves and eventually the state," said Master Sgt. Jose Guerrero of Grayslake, Illinois, an infantryman and operations noncommissioned officer with the 404th MEB.

Guerrero is in charge of coordinating and setting up the competition and the events, a task he has been doing at the 404th MEB and other units for years.

For Morris, the NCO of the year, this is his third year competing and his second year to move up to the state level in this competition. In 2012, he not only made it to the state level but he went on to compete at regionals, where he was knocked out of the competition.

"Of all the years I've competed, this group of competitors is the best," said Morris. "There is always one serious guy, but this year everyone was working together, motivating each other and rooting for each other. The camaraderie was great."

The eight competitors, four in the lower enlisted category (private to specialist) and four in the NCO category (corporal and above), spent three grueling days getting to know one another as they competed in the events throughout the Marseilles Training Center.

"This encourages Soldiers and to strive to be among the best and encourage them to exceed the standards," said Sgt. Maj. Shane Lammers. "This also gives brigades and battalions the opportunity to highlight the wonderful Soldiers we have in our ranks."

Soldiers spent three days testing themselves with the grueling tasks and very little time in between for rest or reflection. The afternoon of the first day, after taking tests and doing a call for fire exercise they went all in for a physical fitness test followed by a semi-formal banquet, only to rise at 4:30 a.m. the next morning to hit the ground running in the ruck march event.

"I enjoy the competition. We get to do out of the ordinary stuff like ruck marching and obstacle courses," said Morris. He also said he would advise anyone who wants to participate in this competition to, "train hard, study hard and try in every event regardless of how you did on the previous event."

For his part, Born said it is important to get a good sponsor.

"My sponsor was with me at every event, motivating me and encouraging me."

In September, both Born and Morris will return to Marseilles to test themselves against the other Soldiers who made it to the state competition.

image 1- (Left to right) Sponsors Sgt. 1st Class William Reed, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist (CBRN) from Sparta Illinois, Sgt. Jeremy Wubbin, a

Wheeled vehicle mechanic, and winners Spc. Paul Born, a CBRN specialist from Washington, Illinois and Sgt. Chris Morris also a CBRN specialist all from the 44th Chemical Battalion in Galesburg, Illinois stand for a photo during the Best Warrior Competition, July 25 at Marseilles Training Center. Born and Morris beat out six other competitors to be named the Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the 404th Maneuvers Enhancement Brigade. Both Soldiers will compete at the state competition in September. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Marie Schult-Slosser, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs)

image 2- Spc. Brandon Rakers a heavy equipment operator from Quincy, Illinois, with the 766th Engineer Battalion, clears the incline wall obstacle during the Best Warrior Competition July 26 at Marseilles Training Center. Illinois National Guard Soldiers competed in the Best Warrior Competition at the brigade level, competing against each other in 11 events such as, day and night land navigation, weapons qualification, a physical fitness test, a road march and a confidence course. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Marie Schult-Slosser, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs)

image 3- Sgt. Spencer Cushing a food service specialist from South Beloit, Illinois, with the 405th Brigade Support

Battalion does pushups as Sgt. Alexander Carbajal, with the 766th Engineer Field Support Company, grades as part of the Best Warrior Competition, July 25 at Marseilles Training Center. Illinois National Guard Soldiers competed in 11 events in order to be named the Best Warrior (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Marie Schult-Slosser, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs)

image 4- Spc. Timothy of Wharton IIlinois, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist, from Chicago, with the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, does pushups and is graded by Sgt. Alexander Carbajal, with the 766th Engineer Field Support Company, during the Best Warrior Competition, July 25 at Marseilles Training Center. Illinois National Guard Soldiers competed in the physical fitness event as one part of an 11 task Best Warrior Competition. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Marie Schult-Slosser, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs)