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BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION August 2024

North Dakota Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition

Twenty-one North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers from across the state and three Ghanaian Armed Forces Soldiers pushed their physical and mental boundaries during the annual Best Warrior Competition, held at the Camp Grafton Training Center from Aug. 15-18. (National Guard story by Spc. Anna Welchel)

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, state command sergeant major, addresses the competitors.
“This is my favorite time of the year,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, state command sergeant major. “The Best Warrior Competition is a three-and-a-half-day event that challenges Soldier and Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) competitors both physically and mentally in a multitude of warrior skill tasks. It also builds confidence and breeds professionalism throughout our ranks.”

Day One

The competition began with a rigorous physical fitness test, including push-ups, planking, running, and swimming, followed by knowledge boards, uniform inspections, and mock public affairs interviews.

The competitors warm up before the physical fitness test.
Competitors conduct push-ups, planking, and running.

Competitors swim out to a barrel in Devils Lake as part of the physical fitness test.

U.S. Army Spc. Colby Zupan, 191st Miltary Police Company
U.S. Army Sgt. Kevin Curley, 426th Signal Company
U.S. Army Sgt. Max Dahl, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery

Competitors conduct knowledge boards

U.S. Army Spc. Kaden Campbell, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 164th Engineer Company
U.S. Army Sgt. Justus Freidel, 818th Engineer Company
Ghana Armed Forces Private Feliz Baah

Day One Recap Video

Day Two

The second day started with night land navigation, transitioning into daytime land navigation with weapons range drills.

U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Tollefson, 816th Military Police Company
U.S. Army Spc. Edward Snyder, 957th Engineer Company

Ghana Armed Forces Private Jonathan Nyarko

U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Mehlhoff, 131st Military Police Battalion
U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Tollefson, 816th Military Police Company
U.S. Army Spc. Elijah Flansburg, 897th Engineer Team
“I really like the camaraderie among the Soldiers,” said Sgt. Richard Tangen, 957th Engineer Company. “These guys I compete with—we have no idea who each other are, but by the end of the competition, we all grow closer, and it just builds a stronger bond within the North Dakota Army National Guard.”

U.S. Army Sgts. Andrew Doss, 191st Military Police Company, and Richard Tangen, 957th Engineer Company

Competitors conduct weapons range.

U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Doss, 191st Military Police Company.

Non-Commissioned Officers Category
Soldiers Category

Day Two Recap Video

Day Three

On day three, competitors battled warrior tasks and a 6-mile ruck march.

U.S. Army Sgt. Max Dahl, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery

U.S. Army Sgt. Joseph Brossert, 188th Engineer Company
U.S. Army Sgt. Justus Friedel, 818th Engineer Company
U.S. Army Spc. Jonathan Nistler, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery
U.S. Army Spc. Logan Coleman, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment

Day Three Recap Video

Competitors complete a 6-mile ruck march.

Final Day

A physically demanding confidence course and a towering rappel challenge rounded out the final morning of the competition.

U.S. Army Sgt. Austan Lindborg, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment

Competitors rappel down the tower
U.S. Army Spc. Andrew Mehlhoff, 131st Military Police Battalion

Competitors spent months preparing for the event, rigorously studying military regulations, warrior tasks and drills, along with undergoing intense physical training in anticipation.

U.S. Army Sgt. Austan Lindborg, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment

U.S. Army Sgt. Samuel Konah, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
Ghana Armed Forces Lance Corporal Juliana Sakat
U.S. Army Sgt. Maddison Schlager, 231st Quartermaster Platoon.

U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Tollefson, 816th Military Police Company

U.S. Army Sgt. Jack Loepp, 142nd Engineer Battalion
U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Tangen, 957th Engineer Company
U.S. Army Sgt. Joseph Brossert, 188th Engineer Company

Winners & Runner-ups

Sgt. Joseph Kane, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, won the NCO category, and Spc. Jonathan Nistler, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, won the enlisted category. The runners-up were Sgt. Max Dahl, Delta Detachment, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Spc. Edward Snyder, 957th Engineer Company.

The winners will continue to refine their skills as they prepare to compete in the Region VI competition next year in Boise, Idaho. If the winners are unable to attend, the runners-up may have the opportunity to compete.

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