New York Army National Guard Specialist Austin Manville, a Rochester resident, was one of two winners in the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Best Warrior contest, held October 20 through 23 in Youngstown and Niagara Falls.
Manville, age 22, was the top winner in the junior enlisted soldier category. He is a member of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry which is headquartered in Niagara Falls but has units in several locations in western New York.
Sgt. Brandon Clemente, from Poughkeepsie, won in the non-commissioned officer category.
The Best Warrior competition is an annual event in which soldiers from across New York compete at their local units before going onto a statewide competition. The winners of that event compete regionally, then compete against National Guard Soldiers from around the country. Eventually there is a competition for the best soldier in the entire Army. Manville and Clemente were among 15 soldiers from the 27th Brigade, who competed to go on to the state level competition in May of 2022.
The 27th Infantry Brigade has about 3,500 soldiers located in units across New York from Long Island to Jamestown. The multi-day competition tests a soldier’s military knowledge, physical fitness, endurance, and marksmanship.
The event included a 12-mile forced march with a 35 pound pack and weapon, along the Niagara River to Niagara Falls. The soldiers had to complete the event in three hours to stay in the competition.
A stress shoot required each soldier to drag a medical dummy to safety, while firing their rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. The shoot scenario finished with each competitor calling for medical evacuation over a radio and launching a smoke grenade to signal for a landing zone.
At separate locations nearby, the soldiers were tested on their ability to assemble and utilize a radio to give a report, assemble, disassemble and perform a functions check of the M2 machine gun, and treat a casualty under fire.
After their first rest period in 24 hours, the soldiers were back in action Saturday before the sun came up, completing an Army Combat Fitness Test. The six-event test included a three repetition maximum deadlift, a standing power throw, hand release push-ups, a sprint-drag-carry relay, hanging leg tuck, and a two-mile run.
The final challenge – a “mystery event” revealed when it began – was a two page essay. The soldiers demonstrated critical thinking skills as they were asked to write about what the Army is doing to combat corrosive issues – suicide, sexual harassment and assault, and racism – and how they think the organization can continue to improve.
The soldiers were also judged on military knowledge and the appearance of their uniforms.
Each of the soldiers who competed previously won their individual battalion-level best warrior competition. Getting from there to the brigade level requires months of training while on duty with the National Guard, and extra effort during personal time out of uniform.
Manville works as a full time member of the New York National Guard Honor Guard, which provides funeral services for Army veterans.
“A lot of it is just staying mentally tough and knowing that it’s going to end, and you are the one – I was the one – that’s going to decide how it ended,” Manville said. “Sure I’m tired. Sure my legs didn’t feel like they were at 100 percent. But if I stopped, if I didn’t give it my all, and if I didn’t win, that would hurt a lot more in the long run.”
Manville will continue to train for the NYARNG Best Warrior Competition in 2022. He wants to improve his hands-on skills with weapons and infantry tasks.
Manville summed up what competitors at the next level should know: “I’m coming. I want it all,” he said.
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