AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Each year, Army Reserve units from different levels compete in Best Warrior Competitions (BWC) with the ultimate goal of making it to the Department of the Army level. The 77^th Combat Sustainment Battalion (CSSB) is no exception as they executed their BWC 22-24 January at Ramey Base, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Thirteen Soldiers, along with their sponsors, came together and gave it their all during the competition in hopes of representing their battalion at the next level. In the end, two Soldiers will move on to the next level of BWC.

Sgt. 1st Class Edwin Velez, 77th Combat Sustainment Battalion S-1 and noncommissioned officer in charge, organized and conducted a Best Warrior Competition for his Soldiers at its headquarters. Along with drill sergeants from the 389^th Regiment, he was able to successfully execute the event.

“This is a very challenging competition,” said Velez. “It will push them mentally and physically and I’m looking for those who will see past that.”

The winner of this event will go on to compete at the 210th Regional Support Group level, then on to the 1st Mission Support Command level. “At the end of the competition, we identified the top two warriors with a set of skills that will represent our battalion in the next round of competitions and can hopefully climb all the way up to USARC,” said Velez.

The participants endured the Army physical fitness test, consisting of pushups, sit-ups and a two mile-run, maneuvered through a land navigation course, hiked a six mile road march, were tested on their Army aptitude, conquered board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams and Warrior tasks and battle drills.

Sgt. Gabriela Echevarria, 276^th Maintenance Company from Canovanas, Puerto Rico and Spec. Francis Rivera, 77^th CSSB Headquarters and Headquarters Company from Ponce, Puerto Rico, excelled during the competition and will be moving on to the next level.

“I represented my unit, the 77^th CSSB,” said Rivera. “It took a lot of strength, dedication and pain during the events but thanks to God, I managed to win the competition and be the Best Warrior! We continue on and of course, if it wasn’t for my sponsor that supported and helped me from the beginning, this wouldn’t have been possible.”

Out of the five noncommissioned officers that competed, Echevarria was the only female. “Going to the BWC was more of a personal challenge, I wanted to see if I could make it and finish it” said Echevarria, “Being the only female put additional pressure on me since I had to stand up for us females. I want others to know that if I could make it, anyone can as long as they set their mind and effort to it.”

The mission of the 77th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion is to provide, on order, Full Spectrum Force Sustainment in an Area of Operations to include Installation Support, Contract Oversight of Field Maintenance, Transportation, Supply and Services Activity, Logistics Support to units assigned to and transitioning through an Area of Operations.