Meet the Best Warriors: 2017 Best Warrior Competition
One of the toughest tests of a warrior’s resolution and training is the Best Warrior Competition. The competition is a multi-day marathon of mental and physical trials, pushing these elite service members to their limits. This year’s competition is conducted at multiple locations throughout Maryland. This year’s competition includes soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and commissioned officers of the Maryland Army and Air National Guard as well as soldiers from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Estonian Defence Forces.
Meet this year’s Best Warriors.
Soldier Competitors
Spc. Samuel Consentino Unit: HHC, 58th EMIB Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 35F – Intelligence Analyst
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Spc. Michael Cunningham Unit: HHC, 1297th CSSB Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 74D – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist
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Spc. Phillip Flint Unit: Co. B, 1-175th Inf. Regt. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 11B – Infantry
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Sgt. Urmo Kägo Unit: 1st Infantry Brigade Estonian Defence Forces Military Occupation: Learning Technician
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Pvt. Vedad Karić Unit: Tactical Support Brigade Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Military Occupation: EOD Technician
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Spc. Connor Rodriguez Unit: 2-20th SF Augmentation Det. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: —
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NCO Competitors
Sgt. Charles Contic Unit: 32nd CST Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 74D – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist
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Tech Sgt. Brenton Deal Unit: 175th Medical Group Maryland Air National Guard Military Occupation: 4B0X1 – Bioenvironmental Engineering Specialists
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Staff Sgt. James Hawley Unit: 110th IO Bn. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 19D – Cavalry Scout
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Sgt. Matija Ivaković Unit: 3rd Inf. Bn., 6th Inf Bde Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Military Occupation: Infantry
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Staff Sgt. Joseph Jacoby Unit: 253rd Eng. Co. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 12B Combat Engineer
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Staff Sgt. Nathan Perry Unit: 1100th TASMG Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 15P – Aviation Operations Specialist
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Staff Sgt. Martin Ring Unit: 1st Infantry Brigade Estonian Defence Forces Military Occupation: Mechanic
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Officer Competitors
2nd Lt. Igor Emkić Unit: 1st Inf. Bn., 6th Inf. Bde. Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina Military Occupation: Infantry
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Capt. Alexi Franklin Unit: 32nd CST Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 11A – Infantry Officer
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Maj. Vladimir Kuznetsov Unit: 1st Infantry Brigade Estonian Defence Forces Military Occupation: Staff Officer
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Warrant Officer Roger Rippeon Jr. Unit: C Co., 2-224th Avn. Regt. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation: 153D UH-60 Black Hawk Pilot
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2nd Lt. Christopher Smith Unit: C Co., 1-175th Inf. Regt. Maryland Army National Guard Military Occupation:11A – Infantry Officer
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