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NY Army Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Clemente, a Poughkeepsie resident, will compete in New York Best Warrior Competition

Camp Smith Training Site (03/19/2022) — New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Brandon Clemente, a Poughkeepsie resident, will represent the National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at the Guard's Best Warrior Competition at Camp Smith Training Center near Peekskill in April.

Clemente is a member of Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry which is based at the Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan.

The Best Warrior Competition, which will be held from April 6 to April 9, tests a Soldiers physical fitness, endurance, marksmanship, military knowledge and military skills. The competition picks a top enlisted Soldier and top non-commissioned officer.

Clemente will compete in the non-commissioned officer category.

These Soldiers then compete in regional, national and all-Army competitions to pick the best enlisted Soldier and NCO 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.

The Soldiers are also tested on their knowledge of military regulations and procedures before a board of senior non-commissioned officers.

The Soldiers also get the chance to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, which involves a few additional tests like pistol shooting and swimming in full uniform.

Clemente has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2014.

He deployed to Afghanistan in 2016-2017 where he served on a personal security detail protecting VIP visitors to Kabul. He deployed to Kuwait in 2020 and served on the personal security detail for the commander of the 42nd Infantry Division.

Clemente has also been part of the New York National Guard COVID-19 response mission.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Overseas Service Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army Forces Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Air Assault Badge, the Driver Mechanic Badge and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

Media Attachments

Staff Sgt. Brandon Clemente, an infantryman from Poughkeepsie assigned to the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, sends a spot report using a SINGCARS radio during a Best Warrior competition in Youngstown, New York, on October 22, 2021. Assembly and use of the radio was one of many tasks evaluated during the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's FY22 Best Warrior Competition. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Maj. Avery Schneider)

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