Mass Guard 2025 Best Warrior Competition
The Massachusetts National Guard held its annual Best Warrior Competition at Camp Edwards from April 9-11, 2025. The three-day event had a simple goal: to find the best Soldier and Non-Commissioned Officer in the state.
Over the course of three demanding days, 32 competitors, comprising Soldiers, Airmen, and members of the Irish and Kenyan Defence Forces, faced eleven grueling events that pushed their physical and mental limits.
The competition began early on the 9th with an Army Combat Fitness Test. The cold weather added a seventh challenge to the six-event fitness test. In the brisk 28-degree weather, competitors donned jackets, fleece caps, and gloves to ward off the cold.
As the temperatures rose with the sun, competitors moved to two ranges to test their marksmanship. The first test was a modified Army qualification test, where competitors shot targets up to 300 meters from a variety of positions, aiming for a perfect score of 30 out of 30.
The second shooting event, listed only as “stress shoot” on the schedule, was unknown to competitors until they arrived at the range.
“It’s a test of your accuracy, your stamina, your shooting fundamentals; the event brings all of that together,” said Sgt. Jake Driscoll from the 772nd Military Police Company.
The stress shoot started with 60 seconds of high knees and burpees. Immediately after, competitors had to drag a sled weighing just over 90 pounds to cover, and engage their first target with an M4 rifle. From there, they moved the sled to three more firing positions where they fired their M4 and M17 pistol. Throughout the event, simulated artillery and machine gun fire echoed across the range, adding to the stressful environment.
Competitors had a short break, just enough time to eat and gear up for the last event of the day, which would prove to be one of the most challenging events of the competition.
Day-into-night land navigation sent competitors out into the woods of Camp Edwards with nothing but a map, compass, protractor, pencil, and a light. As the sun set, the dense brush of Camp Edwards became harder to navigate.
“The most challenging event was the daytime into nighttime land nav,” said Spc. Brendan Smith, 182nd Engineer Company. “Which also made it my favorite event… just don’t get lost,” he joked.
The next day brought new challenges: four warrior lanes, each a scored event, would challenge the competitors’ skills in warrior tasks. These included a call for fire, care under fire, a grenade assault course, and the mystery event: assembling three weapon systems in a dimly lit room while wearing a gas mask.
The grenade assault course was the most dynamic and physically demanding of the day’s events. Competitors had to assault three objectives: a bunker, a trench, and a group of enemies behind cover, with grenades, and do so as fast as possible to get the best score.
Soldiers then moved from the field to the classroom. Changing into their dress uniforms, competitors took a written exam and appeared before a board of three Senior NCOs. The board, presided over by three sergeants major, tested competitors on their military knowledge, current events, uniform standards, facing movements, and their creeds.
The next morning came quickly as competitors needed to be at the start line of the 12-mile ruck march to weigh their bags before 5 a.m. The 12-mile ruck march had a time cutoff of three hours, which, after two days of competition, pushed Soldiers to dig deep.
“The most challenging event by far was the twelve-mile ruck march,” said Sgt. Michael Nizwantowski, 182nd Engineer Company. “It tests your physical and mental capabilities; not only are you trying to complete the 12 miles, but trying to do it as fast as you can, trying to be that first person across the finish line,” he added.
While the event is designed to find the best Soldier and NCO and send them on to future competitions, the event is also about learning, growth, and finding out how far you can push yourself and each other.
“No matter where you placed, no matter where you finished, be proud of your accomplishments and what you achieved over the last couple of days,” said Campbell. “What I want you to take away is not only the excellence in competition and being better soldiers, but you’ve all had a chance to learn from each other and grow. You’ve formed relationships; a couple of days ago you were all individuals, and now you’re almost like a platoon… as big as our army is, you will run into each other in the future,” he added.
This year, coming out on top were Staff Sgt. Brian Kearns, 182nd Engineer Company, and Spc. Joshua Demers, 110th Surface Maintenance Company. Each Soldier was promoted on the spot, received a replica musket trophy, was awarded an Army Achievement Medal, will have their choice of an Army school, and will represent the Massachusetts National Guard at the regional competition next month in New Hampshire.
“Regardless of where you finished, you guys are the best of the best,” said Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard.
