Guardsmen Push Through the Exhaustion in the 2027 Best Warrior Competition

Camp Williams, Utah – Before the sun rose over Camp Williams on Oct. 19, 2026, 21 Utah Army and Air National Guardsmen gathered for the 2027 Utah Best Warrior Competition, a three-day test of physical endurance, tactical proficiency, and mental resilience. Having advanced through competitions at the brigade level, they arrived at Camp Williams to compete against some of the state's top Soldiers and Airmen.

Quiet anticipation filled the room as competitors unpacked gear, checked their equipment, and prepared for the first event. Ahead of them were seven challenges designed to test not only their military skills, but their ability to perform under pressure and push through exhaustion. Some would finish first, some would struggle to finish at all, but each individual would answer the question of how far they are willing to push themselves.

“When things get hard, physical, or even mentally challenging, they can push through anything,” said Utah Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Nielsen, senior enlisted leader for the Utah National Guard. “I think Best Warrior teaches them a lot about themselves, just how competent they are, and that they know how to do it. They're brilliant at the basics.” For the competitors, the challenge began long before they arrived at Camp Williams. Preparing for Best Warrior meant developing the physical conditioning, military knowledge, and technical proficiency necessary to compete amongst some of the Utah National Guard's best. “I believe strongly that preparation is a skill set,” said Utah Army National Guard Master Sgt. Cole Christensen, the Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition noncommissioned officer. “They know what to expect; the onus is on them for how much they want to prepare.” For Utah Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Diego Pacrem, a human resource administration specialist assigned to the 151st Medical Group, preparation meant completing weighted ruck marches after work, increasing his time in the gym, and studying unfamiliar weapons systems to prepare for the events outside his usual career field. “There were nights I would go train with Security Forces,” said Pacrem. “I would work the whole day, and then I would stay there the whole night. I did that a couple of times, and it was a big time commitment, but I appreciate those people who allowed me to do that.” That preparation was put to the test immediately. During a modified Expert Physical Fitness Assessment (EPFA), competitors moved through a timed course involving running, dead-stop push-ups, sprinting, sandbag lifts, a sled drag and a series of crawls. As the course wore on, the strain showed in flushed faces, labored breathing and increasingly deliberate movements. “The first event I came out a little too strong,” said Utah Army National Guard Sgt. Dylan Gregerson, a human resource specialist assigned to the 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. “I gassed out in the middle of that and let’s just say I left it all out there on the field, including some of my insides.” Endurance was not measured by physical performance alone; it was only the beginning of testing their resilience. Each day’s competitors had to recover from difficult events, manage setbacks, and prepare for the next challenge, regardless of how they performed in the last event. “In the brigade competition, my first aid lane went perfectly,” said Utah Army National Guard Spc. Michael Wells, a human intelligence collector in the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. “At this competition, my first aid lane crashed and burned because they really wrenched up the pressure and went beyond the raw basics. That was good because it showed me I understand Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) theoretically, but there are more specifics I need to get into and more they are going to expect of you at a higher level.” The ability to remain effective under pressure was tested throughout the competition. In dark environments full of smoke and noise, competitors were pushed to the edge of their limits as they responded to evolving conditions presented by medical training mannequins. Each individual’s ability to think and act clearly in simulated battlefield conditions was tested as they applied lifesaving medical skills. “That was the first time I’ve done any training of that sort, with that sort of equipment, in that simulated environment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Danilo Salloman, a human intelligence collector in the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. “They had a lot of things going. The sound, the noise, the smoke, the simulated blood, it all really helped to make an authentic scenario-based training.” The challenges continued through the stress shoot and Expert Soldier Badge (ESB) lanes, testing competitors' accuracy, composure, and proficiency in fundamental Soldier tasks. As daylight faded, the competition shifted from executing skills under pressure to navigating unfamiliar terrain by the red glow of their headlamps. By the final morning, accumulated fatigue added another obstacle as competitors tackled a grueling ruck march over steep terrain, drawing on their remaining endurance to reach the finish. For Wells, who finished first in the ruck march, the event demanded discipline even when motivation was lacking. “I want to be excellent at my job. I want to feel like I’m competent as a Soldier,” said Wells. “Frankly, I hate ruck running. I despise it. It’s my least favorite thing on the planet. Waking up this morning, I was like, I gotta go do this thing; it’s an essential skill. I’m happy that I was able to come out here and practice soldiering tasks.” While Best Warrior measured individual performance, the competition also brought Soldiers and Airmen from across the Utah National Guard together, creating opportunities for camaraderie beyond their respective units and branches. “In a matter of a day or two, they’ve already started to form those connections, regardless of what patch that is on their shoulder,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Kyle Harrison, the incoming senior enlisted leader. “The competition drives camaraderie.” For Sgt. Gregerson, that camaraderie was evident in the encouragement he received from others, even as they pushed toward the same goal. “There were some people that supported me and other competitors who tried to keep the morale up,” said Gregerson. “It's still a competition, but it seems like we're a family too.” Those relationships, along with the lessons learned through demanding training, are part of what makes Best Warrior valuable beyond the event itself.

“It's fun to watch them go through this,” said Harrison. “The coaching and mentoring that's gone on from the folks that are putting this on will allow these guys to go back to their units and be better Soldiers and Airmen for having competed in this regardless.” The conclusion of the competition was marked by the announcement of the winners. Spc. Carson Lovejoy was soldier of the year, Staff Sgt. Jayden Leavitt earned the title of noncommissioned officer of the year, and Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Brennan won the award of senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The Army Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year winners will advance to represent the Utah National Guard at the regional competition next year. “I feel like I’ve been able to compete well, but I’ve certainly had a lot of help from NCOs and my peers who cheered me on,” said Spc. Carson Lovejoy, a signal support systems specialist assigned to the 97th Aviation Troop Command. “We all helped each other out. I feel we all had a victory today.” Three days earlier, 21 competitors had gathered in quiet anticipation, uncertain of the challenges ahead. They left Camp Williams having tested their limits, strengthened their skills and forged relationships across units. While the competition recognized the best among them, its lasting impact would be measured by what each Soldier and Airman carried back to the force. “All of us have weaknesses, and being able to identify what they are and then develop a plan to overcome them or to better yourself is the way to overcome any challenge,” said Nielsen. “So really, all of these people are competing against one another, but their biggest competitor is the person they see in the mirror every day when they look at themselves.” -30-

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.