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)