Yorktown Heights resident Corporal Troy Perez wins New York Army National Guard Best Warrior event

Soldier will participate in regional competition in August at Fort Ethan Allan in Vermont

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, NEW YORK (07/31/2020) — Troy Perez, a Yorktown Heights resident and a corporal in the New York Army National Guard, was the winner in a competition to pick the top junior enlisted Soldier in the 10,300-member force held July 25-26 at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill.

Perez came in first after a weekend of events known as the Best Warrior Competition, which included tests of military knowledge, a military skills competition, a marksmanship competition, competing for the best score in the Army Combat Fitness Test, and a 12-mile speed march with full pack.

During the event a best non-commissioned officer was also chosen. The winner in that category was Sgt. Matthew Ortiz from Bethpage.

Soldiers who win the Best Warrior Competition go on to represent New York in a regional competition being held at Camp Ethan Allan in Vermont in August. The winners of the regional competition then compete against National Guard Soldiers from around the country. Eventually the top Soldiers in the Army National Guard, The Army Reserve and the Active Army compete to be the top winner in the Army.

"Only the top Soldiers from across the New York Army National Guard participate in the Best Warrior Competition. To win a Soldier needs to be in great physical shape, be an excellent marksman, and have mastered the basic skills of Soldering in the 21st Century," said New York Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major David Piwowarski. "It is a tremendous achievement."

Piwowarski is the top non-commissioned officer in the New York Army National Guard and orchestrates the annual competition.

This year's contest also required staff and participants to take COVID-19 precautions, Piwowarski said. The contestants wore masks for non-physical events and temperatures were taken regularly, he said.

Perez, who serves in Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, joined the New York Army National Guard in 2018.

In civilian life Perez is an Emergency Medical Technician in the Fire Department New York.

Perez holds a bachelor's degree in business management.

He is a graduate of the Army's Ranger School, the Airborne School, and the Combat LifeSaver Course.

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

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