Army Guard Staff Sgt. Alexander Sanchez, a Baldwinsville resident, will represent New York at regional Best Warrior event in May

Competition tests Soldier's physical fitness, marksmanship, endurance, and Soldier skills

Latham, New York (04/22/2022) — New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Alexander Sanchez, a Baldwinsville resident, will represent the will represent New York during the Army National Guard's northeast region Best Warrior Competition in Connecticut, May 9-13.

Sanchez who works as a system administrator in civilian life, is a member of the 222nd Military Police Company which is based at the Patriot Way Armory in Rochester.

Sanchez was the winner of the New York National Guard's Best Warrior Competition which was held from April 6 to 8 at the National Guard's Camp Smith Training Site in the Hudson Valley near Peekskill.

"It's a huge honor winning in New York State," Sanchez said. "I'm very excited to move forward into regionals and take regionals for New York."

"I just really liked to see what I can do against the best Soldiers," Sanchez added. "I do it because I enjoy pushing myself."

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 non-commissioned officer 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 non-commissioned officer 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.

Sanchez has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2013.

His awards include the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon.

Sanchez has participated in the New York National Guard response to the COVID-19 pandemic at state testing site in Rochester and deployed to Puerto Rico during a hurricane response mission in 2017.

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