Army Reserve Best Warrior – All Over Until Summer 2010

Thanks for following along as Best Warriors throughout the Army Reserve competed for top honors. There will be no more posts until summer 2010 when a new round of competitions begins again.

Army Announces Best Warriors for 2009

Just minutes ago, the Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston, announced the 2009 Army Best Warriors.

Specialist Shiloh Becher, Army Reserve Soldier of the Year 2009.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, Army Reserve NCO of the Year 2009.

Unfortunately for Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler and Spec. Shiloh Becher, the Army Reserve’s two competitors, the two winners came from United States Army Europe (NCO) and Forces Command (Soldier).

Although not Army’s 2009 winners, the two still beat out some 210,000 Army Reserve Soldiers and will carry with them the honor of being the command’s best warriors this year.

Just before the announcement, Butler and Becher talked with a military reporter about their experiences. “It (competing) was a tremendous opportunity,” said Butler. Asked if he would do it again, he said “it’s time for me to step aside and let someone else compete.” Listen to Butler’s interview.

Becher commented about the Army-level competition. “It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t as hard as the USARC competition (in July at Fort McCoy, Wisc.). Between the Army competition ending Friday and today’s announcement, Becher even found time to run in the Army Ten-Miler Sunday in Washington, D.C. Listen to Becher’s interview.

While both competitors are rightly disappointed, both performed extraordinarily well. The entire Army Reserve community is extremely proud of these fine American Soldiers.

It will all be over in four hours.

Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston will announce the winners of the Army Best Warrior Competition at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting today. The venue, the Eisenhower Luncheon, starts at noon with the expected announcement before 1:30. Stay tuned. Keep your positive thoughts coming for Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler and Spec. Shiloh Becher.

Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills, Day Qual, Stress Fire, Night Fire

Flares, tracer rounds, and explosions rocked the night at the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Oct 2 2009. Soldiers were up at 3 a.m. and didn't rack out until after midnight. Up again at 3 on Friday for the mystery event. Photo by Tim Hale, USARC Public Affairs.

It was a long day. Especially following a long day Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler and Spec. Shiloh Becher got maybe 3 hours sleep each of the last two nights. But, none of the other competitors got any more sleep either. Watch the video of “best shots” from yesterday’s competition.

Today is the last day – and again started at 0300 with the mystery event – a uniform inspection, a roll-over simulator, assault a village searching for terrorists, and evaluate a casualty. If that wasn’t enough, the competitors immediately moved into the combatives tournament.

No one will know the winners – one Soldier (E4 and below) and one NCO Best Warrior for 2009 until Monday when the Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston introduces the two at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

Until then, the competitors get a little rest, heal their wounds, and stress over the details: did I do enough? Was there something more I could bring to the competition? For those who’ve watched Butler and Becher, we’re confident they gave it their all – and they were “spot on” througout the competition.

Will the Army Reserve take home another win this year? Stay tuned.

Check out all the photos and video at our Flickr site. Follow at Twitter and Facebook.

Spec. Shiloh Becher runs through the stress fire event Thursday, October 1, 2009 during the Army Best Warrior Competion at Fort Lee, Virginia. Shown here, Becher just finished climbing over the wall and will pickup the simulated wounded Soldier and carry him to safety. Becher is one of two Army Reserve Soldiers competing for the honor to be named Army Best Warrior. Photo by Tim Hale, USARC public affairs.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler treats a casualty during the Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills event at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Butler is the Army Reserve NCO of the Year. (Timothy L. Hale/Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler runs through the stress fire event Thursday, October 1, 2009 during the Army Best Warrior Competion at Fort Lee, Virginia. Shown here, Butler pulls a manequin to simulate a buddy-rescue. Butler is one of two Army Reserve Soldiers competing for the honor to be named Army Best Warrior. Photo by Tim Hale, USARC public affairs.

 

Urban Warfare Orienteering

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler a member of the United States Army Reserve Medical Command in the 4225 United States Army Hospital in Helena MT. checks his position during the Urban Orienteering Course as part of the Best Warrior competition being held in Ft. Lee Va. The competitors are timed on both day and night courses.

Lots of walking…maybe some jogging. Getting lost is part of the deal (maybe) as is tying your best to straight-line it to your plotted point. 

For Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler, that meant going through otherwise “forbidden territory.” During yesterday’s Urban Warfare Orienteering Course (UWOC) Butler found himself walking across the grass lawn of the ranking general officer on post. “I wonder what they’ll say,” quipped Butler. But, across he went – getting to the next point in a straight line saves valuable time – time he couldnt afford to give up by keeping with protocol and walking around the manicured lawn of the general.  Watch Butler describe the incident.

Butler had other troubles – at one point frantically looking for his point marker but not finding it. “I even looked in the tree, but couldn’t find it.” (Watch the video)

But, in the end, he was confident in his abilities to get all the points and back. He even joked about taking a break mid-course! Butler heads to the PX.

For his part, Spec. Shiloh Becher too had issues finding one of his points, spending a precious extra 20 minutes in the woods until he finally got ahold of it. Don’t worry, he made up some time and got finished within the time limit set by the competition.

Today – Warrior Battle Tasks and Weapons Qualifications. Stay tuned.

Check out all the photos and video at our Flickr site. Follow at Twitter and Facebook.

Spc. Shiloh Becher walks to a checkpoint during the day Urban Warfighting Orienteering Course at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Becher is the Army Reserve Soldier of the Year. (Timothy L. Hale/Army Reserve Public Affairs)Spc. Shiloh Becher has his map verified after completing the day Urban Warfighting Orienteering Course at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (Timothy L. Hale/Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Spc. Shiloh Becher has his map verified after completing the day Urban Warfighting Orienteering Course at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (Timothy L. Hale/Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Physical Fitness Test at 0500

0500 – a little chilly, and definitely still dark. The Army Best Warrior competitors gathered on the PT field, under the careful watch of both the competition staff and a large crowd of AIT and BNCOC students who are attending classes here at Fort Lee. The crowd added to the already super-charged atmosphere.

Spc. Shiloh Becher a Reserve Soldier from the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Fargo N.D. prepares to perform the sit up event as part of the Army Physical Fitness Test for the Best Warrior Competition at Ft. Lee Va. Becher, one of the oldest competitors, is trying to deliver a repeat performance for the Army Reserve as the Army Reserve won the Army wide contest last year.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler performs a sit-up during the Army Physical Fitness Test at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. Butler is the Army Reserve NCO of the Year. (Timothy L. Hale/Army Reserve Public Affairs)

Best Warrior Competition FT. Lee Va. SSG Aaron Butler works the crowd during the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT).

 Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler even worked the crowd DURING the two-mile run — and still finished at 12:30! He pushed out 68 pushups and crunched out 71 situps.

Spec. Shiloh Becher, one of the oldest competitors, finished with 54 pushups, 65 situps and a 12:50 two-mile. As he came across the line he shouted “Hey, I maxed out” with clearly a pleased, if tired, look on his face.

Watch the video of Becher’s APFT performance.

Check out all the photos on Flickr.

Formal Boards – Done. Up Next – Pre-Combat Checks.

Competitors completed the Command Sergeants Major board yesterday here at Fort Lee. Staff Sgt. Butler was done by 11:00, but Spec. Becher had to wait until late afternoon. Both felt they did well – Becher even came out of the board room with a huge smile — confidence, or relief? Probably both.

Spc. Shiloh Becher a Reserve Soldier from the 416th Theater Engineer Command, Fargo N.D. enthusiastically "knocks" on the door to the Soldier of the Year Board. The board is presided over by Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston. The annual competition brings the best of the Army Soldiers together from all branches of the Army for the week long competition.

Becher, who is the oldest of the candidates in the hunt for Army Best Warrior honors, joined the Army Reserve at 29 years old soon after September 11, 2001 – which happens to be his birthday.

 He had to get waivers at the time due to his age, but perseverance paid off. At the board yesterday, Becher had the opportunity to thank one of the key leaders who made his enlistment possible. When given the chance, Becher thanked Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston for “allowing me to join the Army at 29.”  Preston smiled. Watch Becher explain what he’d do if he “had more time to prepare” and “why I want to be Army’s Best Warrior.”

For his part, Butler said yesterday’s experience was “the best board” he’d been to. Of course, he followed that up with “but I’ve been through 12 this year.” Watch Butler talk about “if I had one more day to prepare” and “why I want to be Army’s Best Warrior.”

Both Soldiers are representing the Army Reserve in the competition and were selected by Army Reserve Command as the Soldier and NCO Best Warriors this past summer to represent the 210,000 Army Reserve Soldiers world-wide.

Today the competitors draw their equipment from the Central Issue Facility and perform Pre-Combat Checks. In addition, they will be conducting interviews with television, radio, newspaper, and bloggers across the nation and in their hometowns. Tomorrow – the lull ends with a full day starting at 0500 with the Army Physical Fitness Test followed by a written exam, daytime Urban Warfare Orienteering Course and finally night Urban Warfare Orienteering Course – which should end around 1 in the morning Thursday.

Keep the well wishes coming – send a note to our Army Reserve Best Warriors. Click the link below to go to their profile page and add a comment.
Spec. Shiloh Becher
Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler

CHECK OUT ALL THE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS AT THE ARMY RESERVE FLICKR PAGE.
Follow along at Twitter, Facebook, and the Army Reserve DVIDS page.

Can the Army Reserve Repeat with Butler and Becher?

Monday, September 28, 2009 – 9:00. Weeks of intense training, studying, physical fitness, mock boards and mental preparedness. Second guessing and “I wish I had more time to…” moments are gone. Competition starts today at Fort Lee, Virginia to determine who gets to claim the title of Best Warrior for the world’s greatest Army.

Army Reserve Best Warrior for 2009, Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler (L) and Spec. Shiloh Becher (R) and are at Fort Lee, Virginia this week competing for Army’s Best Warrior honors.

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler and Spec. Shiloh Becher, representing the Army Reserve, are anxiously awaiting their chance to appear before the Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) and other senior Command Sergeants Major. Many competitors over the years will tell you that this event is the most worrisome – what are they going to ask, what are they going to scrutinize on my uniform, how do I answer their questions with confidence, but without cockiness? Did I study enough?

Butler will go first, at 10:15. He’ll have 20 minutes in front of the highest ranking NCO in the Army. Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston has presided over this competition for six years. All Sergeants Major are a bit intimidating, but the SMA by default is the definition of intimidating for a Soldier competing for Best Warrior honors.

Becher will appear this afternoon at 3:45. Having more time is both a blessing and a curse. A little more time allows you to review potential questions. But, with a little more time you can start second guessing yourself…and making yourself more nervous by the minute.

Only time will tell whether time is on his side, but as true professionals these Soldiers are ready and more than capable of repeating last year’s win for the Army Reserve.

Tomorrow – Pre-Combat Inspections. Wednesday, Army Physical Fitness Test, Urban Orienteering Day, and Urban Orienteering Night.

If you were here at Fort Lee, what advice would you give SSG Butler and SPC Becher?
Send them a note of encouragement…click on the links below to go to their biography pages and post a comment!
    Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler 
    Spec. Shiloh Becher

Learn more about the competition on the Army’s Best Warrior micro-site.

Becher and Butler are Packing Their Bags; A Couple More Days the Competition Starts Anew

After a week at home with their families, Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler and Spec. Shiloh Becher are starting to pack their gear, uniforms, and getting ready to say goodbye again to their families. The Army Best Warrior Competition starts Monday at Fort Lee, Virginia.  Another long week awaits, full of orienteering, weapons qualifications, APFT and of course some mystery events.

Check it all out starting Monday morning. Staff Sgt. Francisco Guttierez will be blogging all the events and we’ll be posting photos, videos and keeping you up to date on Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. Check back with us and boost our two Best Warriors along to the finish.

And even more weapons…

Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler (left front), the Army Reseve NCO Best Warrior, and Spec. Shiloh Becher (right) practice land navigation skills at at Fort Hunter-Liggett recently. The pair are in California preparing for the 2009 Army Best Warrior Competition which starts September 28 at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Staff Sgt. Butler and Spec. Becher near the end of their time at Fort Hunter-Liggett, California. They’ve been there, training for the Army Best Warrior Competition, since late August.

Two more days, and they go home to see their families.

Weapons trianing has been ‘omnipresent’ during the training, with lots of Primary Marksmanship Instruction, range firing, countersniper exercises, MOUT sites (Military Operations in Urban Terrain), and more.

Add in a LOT of ruck marches – one Tusday for 5  miles with more than 100 pounds of gear and one today for 7 miles.  Yes, these guys have done more in the last few weeks than most do in a year.

Butler says that one of the best events was “clearing rooms” – a shoot house was rigged with cameras, opposing forces (OPFOR), and lots of obstacles and traps. Becher and Butler had weapons loaded with special rubber bullets, as did the OPFOR. The two had to shoot, clear, and hold rooms. Butler got shot in the knuckle from an OPFOR bullet – and will probably remember the sting for a long while.

Check out the other photos at www.flickr.com/photos/myarmyreserve. Check back here starting Monday, September 28th for event by event coverage of the Army Reserve Best Warriors competing with their Active and National Guard colleagues for the title of Army Best Warrior.

Good luck guys!