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Region II Best Warrior Competition 2015

By Staff Sgt. Nancy Spicer, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment —
FORT PICKETT, Va. (May 31, 2015) – Two Soldiers from the Maryland Army National Guard competed for Region II Best Warrior at Fort Pickett, Virginia, on May 29-31.

From left 1st Sgt. Tracy Lee, Battaltion Operations Sergeant; Command Sgt. Maj. William Davis, 581st Command Sgt. Maj.; Sgt. 1st Class James Lentscher, 2-53rd 1st Sgt; Sgt. Maj. Jen Combs, Battalion Operations Sergeant; Command Sgt. Maj. Kimberly Mendez, Maryland Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major; Staff Sgt. Brandon Kennedy, Maryland Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; Spc. Christopher Hoffman, Maryland Army National Guard Soldier of the Year; Command Sgt. Maj. Craig Willet, 29th CAV Command Sergeant Major; Sgt. Maj. Teresa Landon, 29th DIV Senior Enlisted Advisor. The Region II Best Warrior Competition events included the Army Physical Fitness Test, Land Navigation, Marksmanship, several Warrior Tasks and a Board.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Spicer, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Spc. Christopher M. Hoffman, a Blackhawk mechanic crew chief from the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, was awarded Soldier of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Brandon J. Kennedy, a combat engineer from the 253rd Engineer Company, was awarded Noncommissioned Officer of the Year at the Maryland Best Warrior Competition in March, which meant they both advanced to the regional competition.

The regional competition included two soldiers from each of the five states in the region – West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware – as well as from Washington, D.C.

Spc. Christopher M. Hoffman a soldier in 1-169th out of Edgewood, Md., does sit ups as part of the Army Physical Fitness Test at Fort Pickett, Va. on May 29, 2015. The Region II Best Warrior Competition events included the Army Physical Fitness Test, Land Navigation, Marksmanship, several Warrior Tasks and a Board.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Spicer, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

The Best Warrior Competition events included the Army Physical Fitness Test, rifle marksmanship, land navigation, evaluating a casualty, hand and arm signals, weapon maintenance, a 6-mile road march while wearing a 30-pound rucksack, and an interview panel, said Command Sgt. Maj. Carl A. Holcomb, the Virginia Army National Guard command sergeant major.

This was Kennedy’s second time representing Maryland in the Region II competition; unfortunately, this was also the second time he did not win.

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“It seems like a common theme for people to do repeat competitions,” said Kennedy. “The level of competition this time was much higher than the previous time I was here.”

This was the first time Hoffman competed at the regional level. He finished in second place, only missing the top prize by one point. Should the winner not be able to attend the national competition, Hoffman would compete in his place as the runner up.
Though Hoffman did not win overall, he said he learned a lot from the competition.

“There’s great leaders out there,” said Hoffman. “I’ve had the greatest support from leaders – from my sponsor all the way up to my state command sergeant major.”

Spc. Christopher M. Hoffman and Staff Sgt. Brandon J. Kennedy study their maps and plots their points for the Land Navigation Task at Fort Pickett, Va., on May 29, 2015. The Region II Best Warrior Competition events included the Army Physical Fitness Test, Land Navigation, Marksmanship, several Warrior Tasks and a Board.(Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Spicer, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Sponsors and senior enlisted members from Maryland accompanied Hoffman and Kennedy to the competition. Staff Sgt. Delvon Anderson , a former Best Warrior competitor who works at the National Guard Bureau, mentored Hoffman; Sgt. 1st Class James Lentscher, the 253rd Engineer Company’s first sergeant, mentored Kennedy.

“I am super appreciative of everything that my supporters have done for me,” said Kennedy. “It really means a lot to me on a personal and professional level.”