Vermont Army National Guard Specialist Saul Hernandez, a Peekskill, N.Y. resident, participates in northeast Best Warrior contest

Four day event at Camp Smith rests stamina and skills of National Guard troops from New York, New Jersey and New England

Camp Smith Training Site, NY (05/24/2018) — Vermont Army National Guard Specialist Saul Hernandez, a Peekskill, N.Y., resident, was one of 14 National Guard Soldiers who took part in the Northeast Region Best Warrior competition held May 16-19 at the New York National Guard's training camp near Peekskill, N.Y.

Hernandez, who was competing in junior enlisted Soldier category, is an infantryman in the Vermont Army National Guard's Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion 172nd Infantry Regiment. The unit, which is trained in mountain warfare is located in Jericho, Vermont.

The Best Warrior competition tests a Soldier's military knowledge, military skills, physical fitness, marksmanship, and stamina.

Soldiers in the ranks of private, private 1st class, and specialist compete in the enlisted category. Soldiers in the ranks of sergeant, staff sergeant and sergeant first class, compete against other Army National Guard non-commissioned officers.

Two Soldiers from each state - the winner in the enlisted and non-commissioned officer categories-took part in the May 16-19 event at Camp Smith.

The winner of the regional competition - which includes Soldiers from New England, New York and New Jersey-- goes on to compete at the national level to be best in the Army National Guard.

Two members of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry won the two competition categories and will represent the Northeast at the national level competition

Hernandez enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2015. He competed in the Vermont Army Guard Best Warrior contest in 2017 before entering again this year and winning the state competition.

He is a graduate of Norwich University with a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. In civilian life he is a field engineer .

The Best Warrior competition tasks are specifically designed to mirror what Soldiers must do in combat.

These included combat simulations, a 12-mile forced march, Soldier tasks and battle drills, marksmanship and board interviews, physical fitness tests, and written exams.

The Soldiers also had the opportunity to compete and earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge thanks to an arrangement with the German Army Liaison Office at the United States Military Academy. West Point is located just across the Hudson River from Camp Smith.

The competition tested each Soldier in various events such as:

• Ten "hands-on" Army warrior tasks.
• First aid on the battlefield.
• Land navigation using a map and compass.
• The Army Physical Fitness Test.
• Day and night land navigation.
• Stress shooting, where Soldiers must negotiate obstacles and perform physical tasks while shooting.

The road march was held at the United States Military Academy at West Point and finished at the Fort Putnam historic site high above the Hudson River.

The competitors also had the opportunity to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

The German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge is one of the few approved foreign awards American service members can wear. The test includes swimming in uniform, pistol marksmanship and an 11x10 meter sprint, chin-ups, and 1000 meter run.

Hernandez earned this award along with being named Best Warrior.

Hernandez's awards income the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, And the National Defense ribbon.

A video about the competition can be seen here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCjMqjwT3S0

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