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NEWS | March 23, 2016

316th’s Best Warrior

By Staff Sgt. DALTON Smith 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The constant surprise and change in schedule kept the warriors competing in the 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) best warrior competition moving and on the alert.

“I am very surprised and excited,” said Spc. Beau Wilson, with the 630th Transportation Company. “Basically I feel every emotion possible now.”

“The best warrior competition means a lot for the Soldiers because of all their hard work, sacrifice and determination they have put into it,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Allen Kurtz, command sergeant major of 301st Regional Support Group. “This will professionally develop them to become great senior noncommissioned officers. It is their legacy to build the force of the future with their skills.”

This competition will test 17 U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers in the Army Physical Fitness Test, weapon qualification with the M4 Carbine and M9 Pistol, writing skills, land navigation, command sergeant major board, warrior skills of combat lifesaver and drill and ceremony.

After winning the title of best warrior here, two Soldiers, Spc. Matthew Warunek and Sgt. John Dana, have earned the privilege to compete in the 377th Sustainment Command (Theater) best warrior competition in Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

“I have done the best warrior competition as a Pvt. Class and Specialist in the past,” said Sgt. Adolphus Bryant, with the 719th Movement Control Battalion. “I consider those to be practice ones, preparing me for this one as a sergeant.”

According to Brig. Gen. Richard Staats, commanding general of the 316th ESC, all Soldiers who competed are the motivation for their Soldiers back home. They raised the bar with the skills they used here.

Sgt. Erin Bridges, assigned to the 976th Movement Control Team Detachment, wished to sponsor a Soldier from her unit, but no one was able to and stepped up and volunteered for the competition herself. Keeping up with the pack, if not in front of it, was her motivation.

Although Wilson is very familiar with firearms on the civilian side and practiced running every day at A Mountain in Arizona, he said he still has no idea what to expect and is excited to see what will be thrown at him next.

“I love moving quickly from event to event,” said Wilson. “It keeps us on our toes.”

Staats wishes that these two competitors go far after leaving here, since the winners of the 316th ESC’s competition last year made it to the U.S. Army Reserve competition.