GREENVILLE, Ky. –
Soldiers from across the Commonwealth competed in multiple events to take home top honors in the training year 2025 Kentucky Army National Guard’s Best Warrior competition at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Nov. 3-6.
The event, hosted by the 75th Troop Command and more than 50 support staff from various units in their command, put Soldiers from across the Commonwealth through four days of grueling challenges.
Kentucky State Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Withers opened the competition by addressing the competitors, offering words of encouragement and issuing a challenge to the competitors.
“This competition is your story, and it is up to you to write the story,” said Withers. “What is your story going to be coming out of this competition? You’ve accepted the challenge, give it your all and expect to come out of this to represent Kentucky at Regionals.”
Junior enlisted Soldiers and non-commissioned officers competed in the multiple events.
“Overall, it has been a great learning experience competing against other Soldiers and NCOs,” said Spc. Todd Musgrove, an infantryman with Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment. “My favorite event has been the land navigation in low light event. We all struggled with it but found a way to complete it and have a great story to tell with it.”
The competitors were tested in their military skills through several events such as land navigation, weapons disassembly-reassembly-functions check, appearance boards, essay writing, individual weapon qualifications and medical skills challenges. The competition also pushed the physical fitness of the Soldiers with an Army Combat Fitness Test, the Expert Soldier Badge physical fitness test, obstacle course, stress shoot, and a simulated trench warfare event.
“Not one Soldier was strong in every event,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Baker, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with the 301st Chemical Company. “Each of us has strengths and weaknesses in the different events. Ultimately, those strengths and weaknesses help bring out the best in each one of us. We all had to come together for the collective good.”
The support staff from the various units across Kentucky were also excited to be part of the event and witness the competitors' personal courage.
“It’s awesome seeing so many experts from varying organizations within the Guard competing to earn the title of Best Warrior,” said Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Thiemann, an operations non-commissioned officer with HHC, 1-149th Infantry. “Their personal courage to push the limits of their abilities in pursuit of excellence is a testament to the benevolent mentorship demonstrated daily in the Kentucky Army National Guard.”
Ultimately, Musgrove earned the title of Soldier of the Year while Staff Sgt. Thomas Barrett-Weber, a multiple launch rocket system crewmember with Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Regiment, earned NCO of the Year. Musgrove and Barrett-Weber may represent Kentucky at the Region III Best Warrior Competition to be held in South Carolina this coming April.
“All of the competitors represented their units and the Kentucky Guard with pride,” said Withers. “This will write the next chapter in your Kentucky Guard story. Each of the events of this competition relates to something that you can immediately take back to your units and implement.”