Army National Guard Specialist Edward Logel, a Grand Island resident, participates in the New York Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition.

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

Latham, NY (04/09/2019) — Army National Guard Specialist Edward Logel, a resident of Grand Island, 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.

Logel, who joined the Army National Guard in 2015, is a member of Buffalo's 105th Military Police Company. He is also participation in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at SUNY Brockport under the simultaneous membership program.

In September and October 2017 he deployed to the U.S. Virgin Islands with other members of the 105th Military Police Company to assist in hurricane recovery operations there. He was also part of the New York National Guard response to Lake Ontario flooding in the spring of 2017.

Logel was selected as the top junior enlisted Soldier 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 three 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.

Logel's awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Virgin Islands Emergency Service Ribbon and the Tennessee National Guard Individual Achievement Ribbon.

He is a student at SUNY Brockport working on a criminal justice degree.

Media Attachments