Rockton, Maryville Soldiers prevail in the Illinois Army National Guard's 2013 Best Warrior Competition

Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs

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Spc. Jacob Bultmann of Maryville, Ill., was named the Illinois Army National Guard’s Soldier of the Year following the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2013 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 19 to 22.

SPRINGFIELD, IL (09/27/2013)(readMedia)-- Following a four-day competition, two Soldiers placed top in the Illinois Army National Guard's 2013 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 19 to 22 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill.

Spc. Jacob Bultmann of Maryville, Ill., with Company B, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) in Bloomington, Ill., was named the Illinois Army National Guard's Soldier of the Year and Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Tallman of Rockton, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd BSTB in Machesney Park, Ill., was named the Illinois Army National Guard's NCO of the Year.

The Best Warrior Competition tests the Soldiers and noncommissioned officers (NCOs) military knowledge, technical and tactical knowledge and physical fitness to decide who is the state's best of the best.

"This is no easy competition," said Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman of Plainfield, Ill., the Illinois Army National Guard's Land Forces Senior Enlisted Adviser. "Each competitor has already proven themselves to be the best in their brigade and they came here to compete for the state title."

Bowman said he was proud of every competitor and their performance over the four days.

"These Soldiers and NCOs did an outstanding job and they displayed the tactical and technical expertise expected of the enlisted corps."

Tallman said the competition was tough, but all the competitors were looking out for each other and helping each other during the four-day competition.

"In four days we got to know each other very well," said Tallman. "Every Soldier that was there deserved to be in that competition."

Tallman said it is difficult to know what one is capable of until they have pushed themselves to their limits.

"You have no way to measure that without an event like this," said Tallman. "You have to bring everything to the table here."

Bultmann said he looks forward to next level of competition.

"I feel blessed and honored to be able to be here and represent Illinois at this point," said Bultmann. "I didn't expect to make it this far, but now that I have I just hope I can keep living up to expectations and put my best foot forward."

The two will represent the Illinois Army National Guard at the Region IV Best Warrior Competition scheduled for spring 2014 at Camp Ripley, Minn. There they will compete against the top Soldiers and NCOs from Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota.

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs / Spc. Jacob Bultmann of Maryville, Ill., with Company B, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Bloomington, Ill., was named the Illinois Army National Guard's Soldier of the Year following the Illinois Army National Guard's 2013 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 19 to 22 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill.

U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs / Spc. Jacob Bultmann of Maryville, Ill., with Company B, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Bloomington, Ill., walks along during a 10-mile road march Sept. 22 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs / Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Tallman of Rockton, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Machesney was named the Illinois Army National Guard's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year following the Illinois Army National Guard's 2013 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 19 to 22 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs / Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Tallman of Rockton, Ill., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion in Machesney Park, Ill., plots point on a map during a night-time land navigation course during the Illinois Army National Guard's 2013 Best Warrior Competition Sept. 21 at the Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill.