Bethpage resident Matthew Ortiz, a staff sergeant in the New York Army National Guard finishes in second place in nationwide military skills event.

Latham, NY (09/22/2020) — New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Ortiz, a Bethpage resident and member of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry finished second in the Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition held Sept. 13 to 16 at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Ortiz, was the number two finisher in the non-commissioned officer category, in which he competed against six other sergeants from across the United States.

He previously won New York's contest held in July at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill and in August at the regional competition in Vermont.

The national competition included a fitness test, combat lane, day and night land navigation courses, an appearance board, Army warrior tasks, a written test, an essay and rifle and pistol course and a 12-mile road march with full pack. Soldiers were also evaluated on their ability to conduct a media interview.

Ortiz, who joined the Army in 2013, served as an infantryman in the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia before joining the New York Army National Guard in 2016. He is currently assigned to Headquarters Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry as a squad leader.

In civilian life Ortiz is an Emergency Medical Technician in the Fire Department New York and also serves as a volunteer with the Bethpage Fire Department.

Ortiz holds an associate's degree in fire science and is working towards a bachelor's degree in emergency management.

His military education include the Army Basic Leader's Course, the Survival, Escape, Evasion and Resistance course, the Advanced Leader's Course, the Combat LifeSaver Course and the Air Assault Badge.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Overseas Training Ribbon.

He and Corporal Troy Perez, who is also a member of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry and is also a New York City EMT, both represented New York and the northeastern states at the nationwide Army National Guard event.

This was the third year in a row in which the New York has sent two Soldiers to the nationwide Best Warrior competition.

The two men trained together for the competition with the assistance of other members of their National Guard battalion, Ortiz said.

"We'd take the American flag and run it across the Brooklyn Bridge," said Ortiz. "It helped keep our morale up."

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