New York Army National Guard Soldiers compete in grueling four-day Best Warrior event

[The Patriot]

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Peekskill, N.Y. — Nine New York Army National Guard Soldiers endured four grueling days of shooting, land navigation, swimming, and first aid, topped off with a 12-mile forced march during New York’s Best Warrior Competition here, March 29-April 2.“The competition is tough and demanding,” said New York Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Major David Piwowarski. “It’s designed to test Soldiers physically and mentally.”At the end, two infantrymen—Sgt. Mitchell Stogel, a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, and Sgt. Mitchell Cooper, who belongs to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry—were named best NCO and best enlisted Soldier.Cooper competed in the enlisted category because he was a specialist when selected to compete by the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Piwowarski explained.The Soldier category is open to privates through specialists with corporals through sergeants first class competing at the NCO level.


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