Robinson Soldier Named Illinois Army National Guard's Soldier of the Year

Story by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs

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Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with 445th Chemical Company in Shiloh runs during a road march Sept. 14 .

MARSEILLES, IL (09/17/2012)(readMedia)-- Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with the 445th Chemical Company in Shiloh, was named the Illinois Army National Guard's 2012 Soldier of the Year following the four-day Illinois National Guard 2012 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 13 to 16 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles.

The Best Warrior Competition puts Soldiers and noncommissioned officers through a six-mile road march, weapon qualifications, combatives, Army Physical Fitness Test, both day and night land navigation and Army warrior tasks.

"There were some really tough events and tougher competition with a good group of Soldiers," said Morris. "We helped each other prepare and get ready but still put out 110 percent against each other during the events."

Morris said the experience taught him about his strengths and weaknesses he hopes to improve upon before the next competition.

"The Soldiers and NCOs who came here were the best of their brigades and came out to prove they are the best in the state," said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman of Plainfield, the Illinois Army National Guard's Land Forces Component Senior Enlisted Adviser. "When the dust cleared we had one Soldier and one NCO who were the best of the best of more than 10,000 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers."

Command Sgt. Maj. Howard Robinson of Olympia Height, the State Senior Enlisted Adviser for the Illinois National Guard said he was proud of every Soldier and NCO who made it to the state-level competition.

"This was a tough competition designed to test their physical and mental readiness, their military knowledge and warrior tasks," said Robinson. "Not every Soldier or NCO will ever make it here, just the best of the best."

Morris said he will continue training for the next level of competition to represent Illinois.

Morris and Illinois Army National Guard's 2012 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Staff Sgt. Beau Dettrick of Marion, with Illinois National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Command will compete in the regional-level competition to be held in Illinois in the spring of 2013 against Soldiers and NCOs from Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The winners of the regional competition will advance to the National Guard Bureau-level competition.

photo 1) U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade/ Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with 445th Chemical Company in Shiloh runs during a road march Sept. 14 during the four-day Illinois National Guard 2012 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 13 to 16 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles. Morris was named the Illinois Army National Guard's 2012 Soldier of the Year.

photo 2) U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade/ Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with 445th Chemical Company in Shiloh negotiates an obstacle Sept. 15 during the four-day Illinois National Guard 2012 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 13 to 16 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles. Morris was named the Illinois Army National Guard's 2012 Soldier of the Year.

Photo 3) U.S Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade/ Pfc. Christopher Morris of Robinson, with 445th Chemical Company reports to the president of the board Sept. 16 during the four-day Illinois National Guard 2012 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 13 to 16 at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles. Morris was named the Illinois Army National Guard's 2012 Soldier of the Year