Army National Guard Sgt. Sean Gallagher, an Endicott resident, participates in New York Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition.

Four-day Competition tests a Soldiers endurance, military skills, marksmanship and physical fitness

Latham, NY (04/05/2019) — Army National Guard Sgt. Sean Gallagher, a resident of Endicott, was one of five Soldiers who competed in the New York Army National Guard's Best Warrior competition at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill, March 27-30.

Gallagher, is a combat engineer assigned to Headquarter & Support Company, 204th Engineer Battalion in Binghamton. Gallagher, age 34, has been a member of the Army for nine year.

He was selected as the top noncommissioned officer in the New York National Guard's 153rd Troop Command following a brigade-level Best Warrior contest. He then participated against Soldiers from the New York National Guard's four other brigade level commands at Camp Smith.

The Best Warrior Competition tests Soldiers knowledge and skills in a variety of situations.

The competition is split into two categories: junior enlisted, for Soldiers in the rank of private to specialist; and NCO, covering the ranks of sergeants, staff sergeants and sergeants first class.

The winners of the state event then compete at the regional and then national level against other National Guard Soldiers. Eventually the top Soldiers in the Army National Guard, Active Army and Army Reserve compete against each other to be the best in the Army.

The evaluated tasks are specifically designed to mirror today's operating environment, according to Sgt. Maj. Matthew Gutzweiller, the operations sergeant major for the competition.

Tasks included urban warfare simulations, basic Soldier tasks like operating a radio and putting on a protective mask, and battle drills, assessing and evacuating an injured casualty, day/night land navigation, a three-gun stress shoot, physical fitness tests, and a 12-mile ruck march.

The 3-gun stress shoot was a new event this year.

This new, dynamic event included sprints, high/low crawling, and ammo can carry while firing the M9 pistol, M4 Carbine, and an M26 Shotgun at steel targets in between the physical events.

"This event is unique, but we want to incorporate some fun into the competition," said Command Sgt. Maj. David Piwowarski, the New York Army National Guard senior enlisted advisor.

"Yeah, we scuff them up a little bit; they high crawl, low crawl and run around with ammo cans, but they still get to shoot weapons and that's always a win for a Soldier," Piwowarski said.

The competition ended with a 12-mile road march at West Point, in which Soldiers carry a rucksack weighing 25 pounds along with an M4 Carbine and finished at the Fort Putnam historic site high above the Hudson River on West Point.

Participants also got an opportunity to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge which required swimming while wearing their combat uniform and pistol marksmanship.

Gallagher's awards include the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the NCO Professional Development Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Oneonta and an Associate's Degree from Savannah Technical College.

In civilian life he works as a project specialist with The Raymond Corporation.

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