Story by SrA Hannah Kirschman
TEXAS BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION BUILDS PARTNERSHIPS, IMPROVES READINESS BASTROP, Texas–The Texas Military Department (TMD) hosted its annual Best Warrior Competition (BWC), which brings Texas Army and Air National Guardsmen together to build teamwork and showcase their capabilities. The three-day competition held at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas, May 3-5, 2022, challenged Airmen and Soldiers from across the TMD to test their tactical and technical skills, including professional military knowledge, marksmanship, land navigation and physical fitness. “The goal of the Best Warrior Competition is to be an inclusive event–and by that, I mean any service, any gender, any MOS, and it’s a friendly competition to showcase what our Soldiers and Airmen can do,” said CSM Michelle Thompson, Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Texas Army National Guard.
In 2013 the TMD was the first National Guard state to establish a joint-force BWC. Since then, the initiative set a precedent for future competitions to highlight the importance of inter-agency training between the sister branches. Through joint competitions like these, members of the TMD can improve their skills and build on existing intraagency relationships, so that every Texas Guardsman is prepared when called upon to respond to a crisis. The competition affords the opportunity for Soldiers and Airmen to showcase how their training has helped them develop the knowledge and skills relevant to today’s operational environment. The competition not only tests the aptitude of these warriors, but also pushes servicemembers to continue to improve their skills and to set new standards of excellence. H
A1C RODNEY MORALES, A MEMBER OF THE 147TH AIR SUPPORT OPERATIONS SQUADRON, is presented the Army Commendation Medal by BG Monie Ulis and CMSgt James Meadows for being selected as the Junior Enlisted winner of the Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition.
Thank you to the many sponsors who supported the Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition: Adjust (Chiropractic Care – Bastrop) Jason Alley Bastrop County Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative Burns & Ross, LLC City of Bastrop Geoffrey S. Connor, Attorney Crosshairs Texas Kerry Fossler Dianna Greenwood Mel Hamner – Bastrop CC Hunt Companies Line 204 LiteFighter Systems MA Partners Military Forces Conference Foundation MVBA Law NGAT National Guard Association of Texas Rocky Brands Roscoe State Bank Southside Market and Barbeque SWS Vidmar Lista Texas Capital Area Chapter – AUSA The Nitsche Group – Giddings, TX USAA
THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THE WINNERS of the Best Warrior Competition. Pictured L-R: SPC Nickalas Johnson of the 836th Sapper Company was runner up for the Junior Enlisted Best Warrior and will move on to compete in the Army National Guard Regional Competition. A1C Rodney Morales, a member of the 147th Air Support Operations Squadron, was the winner of the Junior Enlisted Best Warrior. SSG Eric Rodriguez, a member of the Texas Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command, was the winner of the NCO Best Warrior and will move on to compete at the Army National Guard Regional Competition. SSG William Ryder, a member of the 836th Sapper Company, was the runner up for the NCO Best Warrior.
Texas Military Department Best Warriors NCO Best Warrior: SSG Eric Rodriguez, Recruiting and Retention Command NCO Best Warrior Runner-Up: SSG William Ryder, 836th Sapper Company Junior Enlisted Best Warrior: A1C Rodney Morales, 147th Air Support Operations Squadron Junior Enlisted Best Warrior Runner: SPC Nickalus Johnson, 836th Sapper Company
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SGM DANIEL JOHNSON (LEFT) AND MSG CANDICE WADE (RIGHT) CHEER ON SSG ERIC RODRIGUEZ as he completes the final stretch of the 10-mile ruck march during the Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition. At the completion of the competition SSG Rodriguez a member of the Texas Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Command was selected as the Texas National Guard Best Warrior in the NCO category. (Photo by SPC Danielle Rayon)
