![\"\"](\"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/18\/2018\/03\/banner.jpg\")
<\/p>\n[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
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One of the toughest tests of a warrior\u2019s 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\u2019s competition is conducted at multiple locations throughout Maryland. This year\u2019s competition includes junior enlisted, noncommissioned officers, and commissioned officers of the Maryland\u00a0Army and Air National Guard as well as soldiers from the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Estonian Defence Forces.<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Pfc.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1520453177011{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Joseph Breining” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1520453139756{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a031B – military police<\/a> \u201cI have more life experience outside of the Army than some of the other guys will have, I\u2019ve been through some rough times in my life\u2026 so I feel like I can dig a little deeper when the going gets rougher out here in the field.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2521″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2538″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sgt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049357641{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Dominic Barnwell” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049370431{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 11B – infantryman<\/a> [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2527″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”1st Lt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049781733{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Norman Loomis” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049796711{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a013A – field artillery officer<\/a> One of the toughest tests of a warrior\u2019s 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\u2019s competition is conducted at multiple locations throughout Maryland. This year\u2019s competition includes junior enlisted, noncommissioned officers, and commissioned officers of the Maryland\u00a0Army and Air National Guard as well as soldiers from the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Estonian Defence Forces.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":2469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2466"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9348,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466\/revisions\/9348"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/ng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nUnit: 115th MP Bn.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been working out for a long time now. So physically I\u2019ve been ready. But mentally, I just needed to improve upon myself from the brigade level. I learned what I\u2019m weak at and try to improve it.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2531″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2525″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Senior Airman” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049452533{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”David Burke” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1520453217780{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a01N4 –\u00a0fusion analyst<\/a>
\nUnit:\u00a0135th Intel Squadron
\nComponent: Maryland Air National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI have a steady mindset, I can deal with uncomfortable situations physically and mentally, and stress doesn\u2019t really affect me too much.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Pvt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521048962547{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=” Ermin Hajri\u0107” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521048973284{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a0Scout
\nUnit:\u00a0Recon Company, 6th Inf. Bde.
\nComponent: Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina<\/a>
\n\u201cI feel excited right now. I can\u2019t wait to start. I was here two years ago. It was awesome. I think this year will be more awesome than the last time.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2533″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2537″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sgt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049025039{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=” Kristjan M\u00e4gi” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049043491{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: Infantryman
\nUnit:\u00a0Kuperjanov Bn., 2nd Bde., EDF
\nComponent: Estonian Defence Forces<\/a>
\n\u201cI was a professional cross-country skier so I\u2019m physically in shape, and I hope that I am better than the others.\u201d<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Spc.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049171711{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”from 2-20th SF Group” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049162447{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 11B – Infantryman<\/a>
\nUnit:\u00a02-20th SF Group (Abn.), Augmentation Det.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI\u2019m consistent, keep level headed and carry out the task.”<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2524″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2523″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Spc.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049237501{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Gerald Villimar” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049246379{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a035N – signal intelligence analyst<\/a>
\nUnit:\u00a0629th MI Bn.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to compete with my fellow soldiers. I prepared by hiking and (relaxed by) hanging out with friends and family beforehand.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Spc.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049283489{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Timothy Wilkins” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049300344{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 15U –\u00a0CH-47 helicopter repairer<\/a>
\nUnit:\u00a0Det. 1, D Co., 3-126th GSAB (Lift)
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a><\/p>\nNCO Competitors:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nUnit: C Co., 1-175 Inf. Regt.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been working with Sgt. Contic who won last year, and I have been getting my mind ready.\u201d<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Staff Sgt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049417650{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Matthew Gilbertz” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049477386{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a0Intel NCO
\nUnit:\u00a0110th IO Bn.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n“I try to attack every challenge that comes my way with all the effort that I have. That’s all I can ask of myself on each one of these events\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2528″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2534″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sgt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049540797{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=” Matija Ivakovi\u0107” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049549548{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position:\u00a0Squad Leader
\nUnit:\u00a03rd Inf. Bn., 6th Inf. Bde, AFBiH
\nComponent: Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina<\/a>
\n\u201cI feel good about the competition. I\u2019ve been running and training with weapons.\u201d<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Sgt. 1st Class” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049902509{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Aleksandr Varikov” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049707402{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: NCO School First Sergeant
\nUnit:\u00a0National Defence College NCO School, EDF
\nComponent: Estonian Defence Forces<\/a>
\n\u201cI think I am prepared for the competition, because all the things that we will do are things that we do as soldiers.\u201d<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2536″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\nOfficer Competitors:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nUnit:\u00a0110th IO Bn.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n“I\u2019m able to react in stressful situations, athletic, and a problem solver.”<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”2nd Lt. ” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049851988{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=” Christofer Smith” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049860412{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 11A – infantry officer<\/a>
\nUnit: Det. 1, D Co., 1-175 Inf. Regt.
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI want to take away something that I didn\u2019t know before.\u201d<\/span><\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2529″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2535″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”2nd Lt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049933168{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Raul Reiljan” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049945445{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: Platoon commander
\nUnit:\u00a0Kuperjanov Bn., 2nd Bde., EDF
\nComponent: Estonian Defence Forces<\/a>
\n“I am quite calm. I like to take things rationally, and I like to think through things and prepare.”<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”1st Lt. ” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521050003766{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Nicholas Riesett” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521049988209{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 11A – infantry officer<\/a>, currently a T.A.C. officer at OCS
\nUnit:\u00a01st Bn. (OCS), 70th RTI
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n\u201cI’m feeling pretty good. I definitely think there\u2019s some stiff competition out here. So we\u2019ll see how we do. I\u2019m just looking to have some fun and compete with these guys.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2530″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2532″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”2nd Lt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521050096603{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=” Marko Vidovic” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521050106121{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: Platoon leader, infantry
\nUnit: 1st Inf. Bn., 4th Inf. Bde., AFBiH
\nComponent: Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina<\/a>
\n\u201cI feel very excited. I like challenges. I can\u2019t wait for everything to start.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Capt.” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521050147555{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Jonathan Woodworth” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:40|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1521050177983{margin-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]MOS\/Position: 66H – medical-surgical nurse<\/a>
\nUnit:\u00a0104th ASMC
\nComponent: Maryland Army National Guard<\/a>
\n“I prepared mentally\u2026when I was commuting to work on the train\u2026 I would study different materials.Traveling to and from the train station I would do some running and rucking.\u201d<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”2526″ img_size=”medium”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"