Maryland gains experience in quest to be named Guard’s top Soldier
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u6vZQrOfe8″ css=”.vc_custom_1600951750125{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600951711055{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]Article by Sgt. Devon Bistarkey, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Imagery courtesy of the Mississippi National Guard[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600950550836{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]
For three days, two Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers competed among the best across the Nation to vie for the title of 2020 Army National Guard Best Warrior at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Mississippi from Sept.14-16, 2020. Being the culminating competition, the two fought and won their spot at the national level by landing on top at their unit, brigade, state, and regional competitions.
Representing Maryland and Region II, which includes Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia, was Sgt. Brian Murphy, a satellite communications operator-maintainer with the 248th Aviation Support Battalion, competing at the noncommissioned officer, along with Spc. Josiah Taft, a healthcare specialist in the 104th Area Support Medical Company, competing at the junior enlisted level for the title of Best Soldier.
This was the fourth year in a row that Maryland has had a junior enlisted competitor at the national competition. This year marked the first time the state had a Soldier competing at the NCO level, as well as, having both an NCO and junior enlisted Soldier competing together. Last year, Spc. Hunter Olson won Best Soldier at the 2019 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, and made history as runner-up in the U.S. Army Best Warrior Competition at the Department of the Army level.
“I am incredibly proud, not just of our competitors, but of their NCOs and leaders that have challenged, pushed, and mentored them along the way,” said Command Sgt. Maj. James Nugent, command sergeant major of the Maryland Army National Guard. “Spc. Taft and Sgt. Murphy have accomplished great things over the past year, and I have no doubt that they will pay their success forward and play a key role in training Soldiers for future competitions.”
In addition to the training five-days a week in preparation for the competition, each step has introduced Murphy and Taft to a diverse group of people who have been key in their success.
“We’ve been able to train and compete with our international partners, including incredible female Soldiers. To talk to other service members, and share how to approach challenges about their experiences and deployments it has been huge,” said Murphy.
Competing military professionals bring diverse experience and backgrounds including leadership and expertise in military professions such as infantrymen, cannon crew member, transportation specialist, engineer specialist, cavalry scout, health care specialist, satellite communications operator, chemical specialist, and military police.
In total, 14 Soldiers, seven NCOs and seven junior enlisted Soldiers, from seven regions representing 12 different states, arrived at the Magnolia state to showcase their skills in hopes of taking home the title of National Best Warrior 2020.
“This is my first time participating in any military competition,” said Murphy. “Going into this experience, my primary motivation as a newly promoted sergeant was wanting a pathway to become a more confident leader and a better Soldier.”
As implementation of the Army’s newest proficiency badge called the Expert Soldier Badge began earlier this year, it gave the competitors a rubric for what to train and prepare ahead of the competition. Earning the badge tests a Soldier’s proficiency in physical fitness, marksmanship, land navigation, and other critical warrior tasks. Skills both Soldiers have been training and tested on at each level of the competition on their climb to the top.
During the competition, the Soldier’s challenges ranged from physical fitness to mental agility and a few mystery tasks. On ‘Day 1’ Soldiers completed the Army Combat Fitness Test, which recently became the Department of the Army’s six-event physical fitness test.
‘Day 2’ included an obstacle course, medical skills evaluation, and weapons qualification. More weapons testing and physical training followed on ‘Day 3” with a stress-shoot, a rock wall/rappel tower, a surprise media engagement, and low-light weapons assembly donning night vision goggles.
The last day, ‘Day 4’, tested the Soldier’s in a combat water survival scenario, and a surprise test on Drill and Ceremony – the Army’s prescribed movements that involve precision and response to orders. The competition concluded with an awards ceremony following the last event.
Top spots were earned by Taft who took first in the exam task with Murphy placing third, respectively. Murphy also placed second in both the land navigation lane and the 12-mile ruck march event.
In the end, Cpl. Daniel D’Ippolito, an infantryman with the Arizona National Guard won ARNG Soldier of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Mitchell Scofield, an infantryman with the Mississippi National Guard, won ARNG NCO of the Year.
The next cycle of Maryland Best Warrior competition events kick-off in October with starting at the company, moving to the battalion, then the brigade competitions, followed by the state-level competition in March 2021.
“The Best Warrior training cycle doesn’t really stop,” said Nugent. “Our units and leaders are always evaluating our Soldiers. We’ll take the lessons learned from the 2020 cycle and adjust our training plans to prepare our Soldiers for success in 2021 and move forward to next year’s Region II competition.”
About the 2020 National Best Warrior Competition
The National Best Warrior Competition recognizes Soldiers who personify the Warrior Ethos, live by the Army Values, and represent the future warfighter. These elite Soldiers competed against their peers in a variety of events designed to test each competitor’s knowledge, technical and tactical skills, physical endurance, mental toughness, and overall combat readiness.
The following states were represented in the National Competition by Regional Winners include; Texas, North Dakota, Arizona, New York, Maryland, Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Nevada.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600950069070{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]
About Sgt. Brian Murphy
Sgt. Brian Murphy enlisted in the Maryland National Guard in April 2014. Murphy attended various military schools and other courses to include the Combat Lifesaver Course, Fiber-Optic Installer Course, COMPTIA A+ 901 & 902 Course. He attended the Basic Leadership Course at Fort Indiantown Gap, where he graduated Commandant’s List.
Murphy holds two associate degrees in Engineering and Fire Science. His short-term goals are two finish his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Maryland and to become air assault and airborne qualified. His long-term goals are to pursue a master’s degree in Project Management and attend Officer Candidate School.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1600950037567{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1600950049030{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1600950014879{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]
About Spc. Josiah Taft
Spc. Josiah Taft is a combat medical specialist with the Maryland National Guard’s 1229th Transportation Company. He first enlisted in the National Guard in 2018. Taft has completed Army Combative Level I and has assisted in teaching the Combat Lifesaver Course for pre-deployment training.
Taft’s short-term goals are to complete Air Assault, Airborne, and Ranger School, as well as attain the rank of Staff Sergeant in his first contract. His long-term goals are to become a combative instructor and retire as a Command Sergeant Major.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]