Story by Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton
CAMP EDWARDS, Mass. – After three days of intense physical and mental challenges at Joint Base Cape Cod, the Massachusetts National Guard has officially named its 2026 Best Warrior winners. Pfc. Juan Sanchez of D Company, 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, took top honors in the soldier category, while Sgt. Andrew Hopkins of B Battery, 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment, was named the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the year.
The competition, which began before dawn at the Camp Edwards gym, drew soldiers and airmen from across the state, alongside international partners from the Irish Defence Forces. Massachusetts National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Pouliot opened the event by emphasizing the value of the struggle, stating, “Testing is how we learn about ourselves… when we compete and we get better.”
The first day pushed competitors to their limits with the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment, a high-intensity circuit involving a mile run, deadstop push-ups, 100m Sprint, sandbag loads, and water jug carries, high crawls, three to five second rushes, and a second mile run. All this was performed in full duty uniform with a vest and ballistic plates.
found the physical challenge rewarding. “I really like that PT test,” said Staff Sgt. Thomas Iken, from the 215th Army Band. “That was like an out of the box fun workout,” he added.
Following the fitness test, competitors moved to weapons ranges for M4 qualifications and a high-stress shoot. Spc. Keith Lima of the 3126 Aviation unit highlighted the stress shoot as a personal highlight. “The stress shooting… that was my favorite because it’s new. I’ve never done it before,” Lima said.
However, the subsequent day-into-night land navigation course proved to be a significant hurdle for many as the sun set over Camp Edwards.
“I found three out of the four points I needed before sundown and I was right near the fourth,” said Iken. “and then sundown hit, and I spent hours wandering in the woods. I found it, but right at the end,” he added.
Being unsure if he was on the right path, Lima ran into a fellow competitor who pointed him in the right direction.
“I met a random guy. I didn’t know him. He helped me with some points, and I trusted him,” said Lima. He told me to go northeast. I looked at I was kind of iffy about it, but I was like, you know what? I’m just going to go full send it. I went I found my point…I learned to trust in one another,” he added.
Day two would challenge competitors’ Soldier skills with the warrior lanes, four separate challenges built to test Soldiers’ skills and knowledge.
The medical lane tested competitors’ ability to provide care under fire and call in a nine-line medical evacuation, the call for fire lane tested their ability to accurately call for artillery fire on a simulator, and the grenade lane tested their ability to accurately clear bunkers and firing positions with grenade simulators. The final lane was the mystery event, where competitors had to assemble three different weapons systems in a dark room while wearing a gas mask.
“In the band we don’t get to do a lot of army stuff… We don’t get to do a lot of field work,” said Iken. “We don’t do artillery or field things all the time, but we still have the skill and the knowledge that we can bring it to events like this,” he added.
Iken cemented this point, finishing second for the NCOs.
After the warrior lanes, competitors donned their dress uniforms for a written test and senior NCO boards, where they were asked questions on Army values, history, regulations, and current events.
The competition concluded on the third day with a 12-mile ruck march that began at 5 a.m.
On day one, Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Ready, the Massachusetts Army National Guard Senior Enlisted Advisor, reminded competitors that success required a relentless attitude. “I ask you to give 110% all the time,” Ready told the competitors. “These competitions usually come down to the last event… so you do an event, you’re struggling, move on.”
Competitors crossed the finish of the ruck dripping sweat and breathing heavy, having pushed to finish in the three hour time limit. Ready’s words rang true, with the final event determining who came out on top.
The event also highlighted the strong bond with the Irish Defence Forces. Commandant Bridget Clark of the Irish contingent praised the perseverance of all involved, telling the warriors, “Getting over that line at the end is the most important part, and that’s what it takes and what’s needed to be a soldier”.
In a closing address, Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, spoke to the broader significance of their service. “What you guys and gals are doing is special. Our country needs you now more than ever,” Keefe said. “You know how to handle stress. You know how to manage challenges… America’s in good hands”.
Sanchez and Hopkins will now move forward to represent Massachusetts at the Regional Best Warrior Competition in Rhode Island this June, vying for a spot at the national level.
