Military

U.S. Army Alaska puts troops to the test in Best Warrior Competition

U.S. Army Alaska held its annual Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Wednesday. Elite competitors representing their units test their Army aptitude, conquering urban warfare simulations, physical fitness tests, written exams, and warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today's operating environment.

Over several days, warriors in the ranks of private through specialist will compete for the U.S. Army Alaska Soldier of the Year title. Those in the ranks of corporal through sergeant first class will compete for the U.S. Army Alaska NCO of the Year title.

The two winners will later compete in Hawaii to be U.S. Army Pacific's best and a chance to compete for the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year title in Virginia this fall.

"We are America's Arctic warriors. We are ready to deploy, fight and win in any environment. And we're here to test our best soldiers to see how they do," says U.S. Army Alaska's Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Dillingham.

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.

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