North Tonawanda woman excels during South African Military Skills competition

NY Air National Guard Senior Airman Vincenza Costanzo, finishes first among women in South African competition

TONAWANDA, New York (11/25/2024) — New York Air Guard Senior Airman Vincenza Costanzo, a North Tonawanda resident, was the top scoring woman at the end of the week-long South African National Defence Force Military Skills Competition which ran from October 28 to November 2.

Costanzo was one of 17 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who represented the United States at the annual military competition held at South Africa's Army Support Base Potchefstroom.

Teams from the Netherlands, Germany, Namibia, and Zimbabwe also took part in the competition, along with South African teams.

The 133-competitor event tested participants with a conventional obstacle course, a swimming obstacle course, pistol and rifle marksmanship events, an eight-kilometer run in combat gear, and a grenade throwing competition.

The New York National Guard, which has had a State Partnership Program relationship with South Africa's military since 2003, regularly sends teams to compete.

This year 10 Soldiers and seven Airmen --12 men and five women-- represented the New York National Guard.

The New York team captain this year, Lt. Col. Andrew Miller, commander of the 102nd Military Police Battalion, said Costanzo - "Vinnie" to her teammates- "was phenomenal."

Costanzo was a competitive diver at Canisus University and it showed, Miller said. She performed superbly in the unusual water obstacle event and did well at everything else, he added.

Costanzo, who is an emergency manager in the 107th Attack Wing based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, has served in the Air Guard for three years.

Costanzo finished in second place in three of the events. Senior Airman Jayla Decicco took two third place finishes and Army Guard Staff Sgt. Stacey Hart took third place in another event.

The New York National Guard women did incredibly well, he said.

Costanzo said that she and the other three women on the team-three Airmen and one Soldier-succeeded because they worked well together.

"We crushed it, I think, because we all were competitive and we all know our strengths and how we could perform well," she said.

While other countries sent military teams-most of which compete regularly in these events-only South Africa and the New York National Guard sent women to the competition. A total of 20 women competed.

Chief Master Sgt. Catrina Gray, a Grand Island resident who is also an emergency manager in the 107th Attack Wing, served as the coach for the women's team.

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Stacey Hart, a Cheektowaga resident, also competed and is a member of the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry which is headquartered in Niagara Falls.

The obstacle course was the toughest event for her and for the other Americans as well, Costanzo said.

"Potchefstroom is almost a mile above sea level, it was a hot summer in South Africa, it's very arid and the air quality is not the best," Costanzo explained. "So, it was a challenge for people used to New York's more temperate climate."

Both the water obstacle course and the regular obstacle course were spectator events for local people who are invited in to watch, Miller noted.

The marksmanship competitions required the Americans to shoot with South African weapons.

That was also a challenge, because the South African R4 rifle is not as accurate as the American M16A2 or M4 rifles the New Yorkers were used to.

While the Soldiers and Airmen enjoyed the competition, the chance to meet military people from other nations and learn about South Africa's culture was a major part of the event, according to Gray.

"Regardless of who came home with a medal around their neck, we all won at building friendships and relationships with soldiers from other countries we never dreamed we would meet," Gray said.

She was also impressed by just how the New Yorkers were treated by the other competitors; Gray added.

"The most interesting thing was the humble respect that all of the countries automatically gave all our New York National Guard members simply because we were part of the United States military," she said.

Representing New York on the woman's team were:

Senior Airman Vincenza Costanzo, 107th Attack Wing, from North Tonawanda

Staff Sgt. Stacey Hart, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, from Cheektowaga

Senior Airman Jayla Decicco, 105th Airlift Wing, from Shoreham (Long Island)

Senior Airman Alexa Reeves, 105th Airlift Wing, From Scotchtown (Orange County)

Chief Master Sgt. Catrina Gray, 107th Attack Wing, from Grand Island

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