Guard troops compete at Atterbury for Best Warrior honors

Indiana National Guard troops and Slovakian service members competed in this year’s Best Warrior Competition over the weekend at Camp Atterbury. The competition tested basic soldier skills including physical fitness, marksmanship and combat readiness.

The three-day event started Friday and included a variety of events including the Army Combat Fitness Test, M4 rifle and M17 pistol qualifications, day and night land navigation, a 8-mile ruck march, an obstacle course, medical evacuation exercises and a formal appearance board.

17 National Guard troops took part in the competition. Slovakia, which partners with the Indiana National Guard, sent two participants.

Sgt. Brendan Bartlett was recognized as the winner of the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Specialist Caleb Chambers won Soldier of the Year. They will represent the Indiana National Guard at the regional competition later this year and possibly national competitions.

Bartlett serves in the 127th Cyber Protection Battalion and Chambers is with the 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment.

Photo: Indiana National Guard Sgt. Clark Fehrenbacher, with 1st Battalion,151st Infantry Regiment, performs a combat reload on the M4 rifle range during The Best Warrior Competition on March 14 at Camp Atterbury. Indiana National Guard photo by Spc. Katie Dixon.