New York Army National Guard Specialist Austin Manville, a Rochester resident, will represent the New York during the Army National Guard’s northeast region Best Warrior Competition in Connecticut, May 9 through 13.
Manville, a member of Charlie Troop of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry which is based at the Masten Avenue Armory in Buffalo, was the winner of the New York National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition held from April 6 to 8 at the National Guard’s Camp Smith Training Site in the Hudson Valley near Peekskill.
Manville represented the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is headquartered in Syracuse, but which has units located across New York.
“It’s a great honor to represent the cavalry and 27th (Brigade),” Manville said. “It’s been a long time coming. I’m ready for the next competition to give it all I got and bring it back home.”
The Best Warrior Competition tests a Soldier’s physical endurance, military knowledge, current events, and mental perseverance, said State Command Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski, the senior enlisted advisor for the New York Army National Guard and NCO in charge of the event.
Soldiers competed in the enlisted category and the non-commissioned officer category for sergeants and staff sergeants.
The winning Soldiers then compete in regional, national and all-Army competitions to pick the best enlisted Soldier and NCO in the entire Army for that year. In 2021, New York Army National Guard Corporal Dakaotah Miller finished second in the Army National Guard’s national event.
During the grueling competition, Soldiers take the Army Combat Fitness Test, participate in a 12-mile timed march carrying a weapon and loaded pack, test their ability to navigate across country, demonstrate their proficiency in skills like emplacing a land mine, treating a wounded Soldier, or making a radio call. They also take part in a tactical stress shoot in which they move and engage target with their M-4 rifle.
“These Soldiers represent some of the best New York has in uniform,” Piwowarski said. The competition was an opportunity for warriors to highlight their military skills in a competitive environment and measures how well they perform under stress, Piwowarski said.”The Best Warrior is the only competition where enlisted Soldiers and NCOs can compete individually and show what they can do as a Soldier,” Piwowarski said.”Normally, when a unit does something well, the leaders get all the credit. This is all about the individual Soldier doing their best – that’s what good and unique about it,” he added.
The Soldiers also got the chance to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, which involves a few additional tests like pistol shooting and swimming in full uniform.
Manville has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2018. He served as part of the New York National Guard response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His awards include the Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
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