Illinois Soldiers compete for title of Best Warrior

MARSEILLES, IL (04/15/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Army National Guard's top Soldier said he was motivated to win by the love of his family and of a hometown still recovering from a devastating 2013 tornado.

Seven Soldiers from across the state met at the Illinois National Guard's Marseilles Training Area in Marseilles, Illinois April 9 for a four-day competition to determine the best enlisted Soldier and non-commissioned officer in the Illinois Army National Guard.

This year's winners are both members of the 444th Chemical Company in Galesburg, Illinois. Spc. Paul Born of Washington, Illinois, took honors as Illinois' enlisted Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Christopher Morris of Springfield, Illinois, took the spot as Illinois' NCO of the Year.

"I knew that I had to train hard," said Born. "My motivation to win came from the love of my family and the love for my hometown."

Born's hometown of Washington, Illinois was devastated by a tornado in November 2013. Born said the town's resilience in recovering from the tornado inspired him.

Going into the final event on April 12, competition was tight with less than 10 points separating the leaders in each division. Born solidified his top spot by finishing the 10-mile road march in less than two hours.

Morris said his motivation came from his family as well and was grateful for the opportunity to compete at the state level.

"It was really great to meet and compete with all of the top competitors in the Illinois National Guard," said Morris. "Ultimately, I just wanted to go out and make my state and my family proud."

The Guardsmen are the top representatives from their respective brigades. The Best Warrior Competition pits these Soldiers against each other in a multitude of events designed to test their physical fitness, mental toughness, and their competence at warrior skills. The winners of the competition become the state's Soldier and NCO of the Year. Then they compete in the regional competition with hopes of reaching the national level to compete for the Army's Soldier and NCO of the Year titles.

The competition began April 9 with the Army Physical Fitness Test, a three-event test consisting of two minutes of pushups followed by two minutes of sit-ups and finished with a timed two-mile run. Over the next three days, the Soldiers competed at weapons qualification, common skill tasks, land navigation, a confidence course obstacle race, and a question and answer board. The competition capped off with a timed 10-mile road march with a 40-pound rucksack.

The seven competitors were selected from a pool of nearly 10,000 Soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard through platoon, company, and battalion-level boards to compete as Illinois' Best Warriors.

Command Sgt. Major Mark Bowman, of Plainfield, Illinois, the Illinois Army National Guard State Sergeant Major, reminded competitors why they were there during the event's closing ceremony.

"Remember, you're seven of the best Soldiers and NCOs in the state," Bowman said. "You were chosen from 10,000 soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard. Be proud of where you finish no matter what."

Born and Morris will compete May 11 to 14 at the Best Warrior regional competition at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indina. If they prevail, they will compete at the National Guard's national competition, then the Army-wide competition later this year.

Cutline 1: Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoops of Geneso, Illinois, a member of Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment out of out of Aurora, Illinois, crawls under barbed wire during the confidence course portion of the Best Warrior competition at Marseilles Training Area April 10. Stoops finished second in the competition. The Best Warrior Competition pits these Soldiers against each other in a multitude of events designed to test their physical fitness, mental toughness, and their competence at basic warrior skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Jason Dorsey, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 2: Spc. Paul Born of Washington, Illinois, a Soldier in the 444th Chemical Company out of Galesburg, Illinois runs to be the first to cross the finish line during the road march portion of the Best Warrior competition. Born finished the 10-mile event in less than two hours to solidify his position as the state's enlisted Soldier of the Year. The Best Warrior Competition pits these Soldiers against each other in a multitude of events designed to test their physical fitness, mental toughness, and their competence at basic warrior skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Jason Dorsey, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 3: Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, Illinois Army National Guard Land Forces Component Commander congratulates Soldiers that competed in the Best Warrior competition at Marseilles Training Area, Marseilles, Illinois from April 9 to 12. The Best Warrior Competition pits these Soldiers against each other in a multitude of events designed to test their physical fitness, mental toughness, and their competence at basic warrior skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Jason Dorsey, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)

Cutline 4: Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia of Chatham, Illinois, Illinois Army National Guard Land Forces Component Commander, and Command Sgt. Major Mark Bowman of Plainfield, Illinois, Illinois Army National Guard State Sergeant Major, stand with Sgt. Christopher Morris of Springfield, Illinois, the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and Spc. Paul Born of Washington, Illinois, Soldier of the Year. The two took top honors at the Best Warrior competition at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Illinois April 12. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Jason Dorsey, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs)