Thursday, February 23, 2017 | Volume 46 • Number 4
StuttgartCitizen.com
Photos by Kevin Abel, U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Public Affairs
Pvt. Olivia Hyles, right, Religious Support Office, negotiates “the tough one,” while Staff Sgt John Schoenmeier provides safety, during the obstacle course at this year’s U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s Best Warrior Competition.
BWC awards 2017 Soldier/NCO of Year By Sgt. Eric Johnson AFN Stuttgart Special to The Citizen
STUTTGART — To be warrior, it takes strength and courage — being the best warrior requires a whole lot more. U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart’s 2017 Best Warrior Competition version challenged the junior enlisted and noncommissioned officer competitors on their mental and physical readiness, Feb. 13-15. The BWC kicked off on day one in the wee hours of the morning, beginning with the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) under a cold, gray sky, followed by a full equipment layout inspection. An oral
Last year’s Best Warrior Competition NCO of the Year, Staff Sgt. Deon D. Myers, demonstrates the correct way to negotiate an obstacle in this year’s competition.
Vintage car show coming to Stuttgart, p. 12
board and essay came next. The last challenge of the day was an obstacle course, never an easy task, even for a seasoned Soldier. The sun didn’t break through the clouds until the last competitor was finishing the course. “When you come to permanent party and you do those warrior skills, they’re going to force you, make you do those tasks uncomfortably,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Mariano Z. Alvarez, senior enlisted adviser, USAG Stuttgart. “It will test your stamina and test your pride.” With a chill in the air and sun beaming up over the horizon, it was time for day two, beginning with the range. Competitors zeroed and qualified on their M4
“A Streetcar Named Desire” now playing, p. 4
rifles at the indoor shooting range on Panzer Kaserne. Once done at the range, they were immediately pressed into the next tasks, a situational training exercise (STX) with a series of Soldier skills. The four STX stations forced the competitors outside of their comfort zones and out of their primary military occupational skills. Fortunately for the competitors, Mother Nature was kinder this year; last year’s BWC was 180 degrees opposite, with freezing rain, sleet and just downright miserable conditions. This time it was cool and sunny. The second day finished with day and night land navigation. See BWC, p.7
Piranhas take a bite out of competitors, p. 3