Indiana National Guard Competed for Regional Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year

CAMP ATTERBURY, IN - Thirteen National Guard Soldiers from seven states in the upper Midwest region competed at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center earlier this month to earn the title as regional Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the year.  Of the seven states, Soldiers came from Indiana, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

 The winners who claimed the top enlisted and noncommissioned positions were Spc. John Wiernasz and Staff Sgt. Gregory Swanson.

 Wiernasz, a Wisconsin combat engineer with the 950th Clearance Company said the competition was challenging but creates confidence in Soldiers.

“It brings the best out in you. When you don’t think you can do something, it lets you know you can,” said Wiernasz.

Swanson, an Indiana military policeman with the 387th Military Police Company said this competition helped him recognize his weak areas of the competition to improve for the national competition.

“It’s easier for me to find time to spend three hours road marching than it is to sit down with a book and try to study for three hours,” said Swanson. “I realize that that is a weak point, and it’s been brought to my attention. It’s just something I need to work on.”

Each Soldier’s warrior skills, physical endurance and knowledge were put to the test during the two-day period.

In the first day of competition Soldiers took a physical fitness test, qualified with weapons, completed Army Warrior tasks, practiced combatives and tested day and night land navigation skills. 

After about three hours of rest, the second day consisted of a 12-mile march with each Soldier carrying at least 35 pounds of weight, then a written exam on aspects of army knowledge, and the appearance boards in dress uniforms to finish the series of events.

Command sergeants major from throughout the region came to support their competitors and also help grade the Soldiers on the appearance board.   

“It’s awesome to be able to come out to events like this with only the absolute cream of the crop and get to spend some time with the Soldiers that you know are just phenomenal,” said Command Sgt. Major George Stopper, Wisconsin state command sergeant major. “I’m pretty confident that the two people we have going forward to the national this year are going to do exceptionally well.”

The Soldiers who competed were chosen out of about 45,000 Soldiers in the region, according to Stopper.

Both Wiernasz and Swanson will go to the National Guard Best Warrior competition at the Warrior Training Center, Fort Benning, Ga., where they can expect an even higher level of competition.

Specialist Marcus Bradley, E Battery, 139th Field Artillery, Indiana National Guard rolls Spc. David Warner, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, during combatives at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., at the National Guard Region 4 "Best Warrior" competition Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Indiana National Guard photo by Spc. Wiliam E. Henry

Iowa National Guard Soldier, Spc. Christopher Permann, 2168th Transportation Company adjusts the headspace and timing on an M-2 .50 caliber machine gun at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., during the National Guard Region 4 "Best Warrior" competition Tuesday, May 12, 2009. Indiana National Guard photo by Spc. Wiliam E. Henry