Oregon National Guard Crowns 2024 Best Warrior Winners (Photo) -03/19/24
WARRENTON, Ore. — The Oregon National Guard concluded its annual Best Warrior Competition Thursday through Saturday at Camp Rilea with Pfc. Francisco Garcia was named Soldier of the Year, and Sgt. Mitchell Sierra was named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
Garcia, a light wheel mechanic with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment from Damascus, Oregon, and Sierra, an infantryman assigned to the Scout Platoon of 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment from Talent, Oregon, prevailed after a three-day event from March 14-16 that pushed competitors through grueling challenges.
The diverse events tested the warriors' physical fitness, land navigation skills, marksmanship, and other battle tasks. They included a physical fitness test, essay writing, an oral board with the senior enlisted leaders, a land navigation course, rifle qualification, a 3-gun competition, an obstacle course, and a ruck march.
"These warriors displayed connectedness, commitment, and competence throughout the competition," said Brig. Gen. Eric Riley, Oregon Army National Guard Land Component Commander. "It was an honor to witness our best and brightest soldiers working so hard. Thank you for the extraordinary effort that makes our Army great."
Command Sgt. Maj. Lee Smith, the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, commended the support staff who put in tremendous work to organize the annual event.
"This is my favorite time of year—these Best Warrior competitions showcase the caliber of our soldiers," said Smith. "The staff's preparation to pull off this complex event is pretty amazing."
The winners, Garcia and Sierra, will go on to represent Oregon at the Region 6 Best Warrior Competition scheduled for May 13-17, 2024, in Washington state. Soldiers from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming will compete at the regional event for the chance to advance to the National Guard Bureau's national-level Best Warrior Competition later this year.
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Released video and photos
Video: https://dvidshub.net/r/dsenyv
Photos
240316-Z-ZJ128-1001: Oregon National Guard Best Warrior Competition winners, front row from left: Master Sgt. Daniel Gardner, 3rd place NCO; Staff Sgt. Thomas Malaby, 2nd place NCO; Sgt. Mitchell Sierra, 1st place NCO; Pfc. Francisco Garcia, 1st place Soldier of the Year; Spc. Charles Hefflefinger, 2nd place SOY; and Pfc. Lucas Smith, 3rd place SOY. Back row: Command Sgt. Maj. Lee Smith, the ORNG Command Senior Enlisted Leader, and Brig. Gen. Eric Riley, Oregon Army National Guard Land Component Commander. The competition was held March 14-16 at Camp Rilea. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs)
240314-Z-CH590-1134: Oregon National Guard service members take part in the Army Combat Fitness Test to assess the Soldier’s physical fitness as part of the 2024 Oregon National Guard Best Warrior competition held at Camp Rilea, near Warrenton, Oregon from March 14-16, 2024. (National Guard Photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
240315-Z-CH590-2562: An Oregon National Guard Soldier takes on the obstacle course on March 15, as part of the 2024 Oregon National Guard Best Warrior competition held at Camp Rilea, near Warrenton, Oregon from March 14-16, 2024. (National Guard Photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
240315-Z-CH590-1638: Oregon National Guard Soldiers and Airmen take part in an early morning ruck after and an early morning land navigation course on March 15 as part of the 2024 Oregon National Guard Best Warrior competition held at Camp Rilea, near Warrenton, Oregon from March 14-16, 2024. (National Guard Photo by John Hughel, Oregon Military Department Public Affairs)
