LAS VEGAS –
The 650th Regional Support Group named their best warriors of 2018 upon completion of the brigade’s Best Warrior Competition, Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb. 5-7.
Soldiers from the brigade’s subordinate units were invited to compete in the three-day event that tested their physical, mental, and emotional abilities while also enhancing their technical and tactical skills.
Spc. Joshua M. Rafike, cargo specialist, 227th Inland Cargo Transportation Company, 314th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, won the brigade’s Soldier of the Year award, while Sgt. Kevin G. Hagler was named the brigade’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
“We conduct the BWC to promote individual readiness and leader development in the 650th RSG,” said Sgt. Major Keith Christie, senior operations sergeant major, 650th RSG, adding that the competition also “recognizes Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values and embody the Warrior Ethos.”
Competitors are chosen by their unit command sergeant major as the best of the best in their units. They are expected to show up to the competition ready to complete multiple tasks including weapons qualifications, a ruck march, the Army Physical Fitness Test, land navigation, board appearance, and other surprise events.
Christie said he looks forward to the competition and seeing how Soldiers are maintaining skills at their company or battalion level.
“In today’s Army Reserve we ask our Soldiers to complete taskers outside scheduled drills,” stated Christie. “When they come to test it shows how dedicated they are to their craft.”
Hagler, who said he felt physically tested during the ruck march, explains that creative solutions, conditioning oneself, and preparing well in advance is important to one’s success at BWC.
“You got to be hungry for it!” said Rafike. “It doesn’t matter how tired you are or how much you think the odds are against you, as long as you set yourself up for success you’ll get there.”
Christie said, “the attitudes displayed throughout the entire event were positive and they (competitors) were receptive to tester’s constructive criticism.”
The 650th RSG winners will go on to represent the brigade at the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) competition with the greatest milestone of moving on to participate in the Department of the Army BWC 2018.