2012 Winter - Space and Missile Defense Command - U.S. Army

SGT Brandon A. Kitchen prepares to enter the MOUT site with his fires team during the surprise event.
7F
The Best Warrior Competition began in
2002 under the direction of SMA Jack Tilley as
a three-day event. Tilley wanted to create a standards-based
competition open to all Soldiers that
recognized the “total Soldier concept.” The competition
was also meant to show the American
public “just how good we are in the Army.”
The competition since has evolved into a
five-day event that requires Soldiers to perform
individual warrior tasks and battle drills, as well
as leading a team of Soldiers. Each subsequent
Sergeant Major of the Army has put his own
touch on the competition. In 2007, then-SMA
Kenneth O. Preston directed organizers to better
reflect the operational environments of Iraq and
Afghanistan in the competition.
Warriors selected to vie for the prestigious
titles have mastered a series of benchmarks
throughout the year to qualify for the Armywide
Best Warrior Competition. Competitors for
Soldier of the Year include the ranks of private
through specialist, and competitors for NCO of
the Year include corporal through sergeant first
class. All active duty, Army National Guard, and
Army Reserve Soldiers are eligible.
Participants in the 2011 event came from
Forces Command, Training and Doctrine
Command, U.S. Army Europe, Army Materiel
Command, Eighth Army, Medical Command,
Army Pacific Command, Space and Missile
Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic
Command, Army Special Operations Command,
Army Reserve Command, Army National Guard,
and the National Capitol Region, which includes
several smaller commands.
Army Space Journal
2012 Winter edition