NY Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Quantico Niles, a Cambria Heights resident, is awarded the Army Achievement Medal

Latham, NY (10/29/2020) — New York Army National Guard Private 1st Class Quantico Niles, a Cambria Heights resident has been awarded the Army Achievement Medal.

Niles was recognized for being picked as a Best Warrior by the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery which is based in Syracuse but has elements across the state.

Niles received the medal from Command Sgt. Major Anthony McLean during the Best Warrior competition conducted by the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill on October 24.

Niles, who is assigned to the 258th Field Artillery's Forward Support Company, represented the battalion in a competition against Soldiers from across New York held October 22, 23, and 24.

The Best Warrior competition tests a Soldiers military knowledge, physical fitness, land navigation skills, and marksmanship. Each major unit in the New York Army National Guard selects two Best Warriors-a junior enlisted Soldier and a non-commissioned officer-to compete in a statewide event held in the spring.

The winner of that event competes in a regional competition and the winner of the region competition competes against the Best Warriors from other areas of the country to be the best in the Army National Guard.

This year the regional competition was won by two New York Army National Guard contestants who went onto compete at the National Guard level.


Media Attachments

New York Army National Guard Pvt. 1st Class Quantico Niles (right) a Bensonhurst, Brooklyn resident assigned to the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery Regiment receives the Army Achievement Medal from 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Command Sgt. Major Anthony McLean during the brigade’s Best Warrior competition at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill on October 24, 2020. Niles was recognized for being a Best Warrior for his battalion. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Pietrantoni)