CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, CORTLAND MANOR, N.Y. (05/17/2013)(readMedia)-- Sgt. Anthony R. Sturgis from Maine and Spc. Eythan Caputo of New Hampshire were named the 2013 top enlisted Army National Guard Non-Commissioned Officer (sergeant, or NCO) and Soldier of the Year, respectively, for the northeastern states following a two-day competition here.

The New York Army National Guard and New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs hosted the Northeast Region Best Warrior competition at Camp Smith May 15-17.

Sixteen Soldiers from Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey all participated with their top Soldier and NCO for the competition that challenged the Soldiers' physical fitness, military knowledge, endurance, marksmanship, and land navigation skills.

Sturgis and Caputo will now go on to compete against other Army Guard Soldiers to decide the best NCO and Soldier in the entire Army National Guard in a final competition against representatives of the Active Army and the United States Army Reserve later this year.

During the competition eight junior enlisted Soldiers–Soldiers from the ranks of private, private 1st Class, to specialist-competed against each other for the Best Soldier title, while eight Non-Commissioned Officers in the rank of Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, or Sgt. 1st Class-compete to be the Best NCO.

Senior Non-Commissioned officers from the eight northeastern states will run the competition.

"It's very intense," said Maine Army National Guard Spc. Lisa Bryant. "We have the best of the best from every state here, well I should say New England, and we're all giving it 150 percent."

The annual competition helps build Soldier skills across the force, said New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Frank Wicks.

The competition tested the Soldiers knowledge in the areas of military justice, field sanitation, security and intelligence operations, military courtesy, leadership, counseling and how to deal with chemical and biological weapons. The participants negotiated land navigation courses by day and night, and took an Army Physical Fitness Test to determine who received the top score.

Participants were quizzed by a board of senior sergeants who evaluated them on their ability to handle stress and military appearance, as well. They were graded in their ability to handle hands-on military tasks, as well as their marksmanship ability with the M-4. The contestants qualifed with their weapon and also negotiated a "Stress Shoot" event which tested their ability to engage targets while maneuvering, and pulling a simulated casualty.

Soldiers also participated in a10 kilometer road march around the Camp Smith site.

New York's two competitors, Sgt. 1st Class David Colliton, an Amsterdam, N.Y. and Specialist Rachel Blanchette, a Patchogue, N.Y. resident completed the competition and will return to their units to encourage future Soldiers to prepare and compete for the 2014 title as Best Warrior.

Colliton spoke highly of his competitors and of the camaraderie of the training event.

"They're my fellow warriors," said Colliton. "We're all one team, one fight. Maybe something I can't do well, another Soldier can."

"The competition really made me find out a lot about myself and how hard I can push myself," Caputo said following his selection as New Hampshire Army National Guard Soldier of the Year on April 19, prior to this week's competition. "It is really good to have that experience."

Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Debbi Newton, 130th Public Affairs Detachment, Connecticut Army National Guard.

Posted Friday May 17, 2013 at 04:09 pm by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Monday May 20, 2013 at 12:16 pm