Fourteen U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, as well as five competitors from the Hungarian Defence Forces and Serbian Armed Forces, participated in the Region IV Best Warrior Competition at Newton Falls, Ohio, May 3-7, 2023. The HDF and SAF competitors attended as part of the Ohio National Guard’s State Partnership Program. Spc. John Shields, combat medic specialist, Company C, 334th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard, won the title of Region IV Soldier of the Year. Staff Sgt. Leo Kerfeld, infantryman, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard won the title of Region IV Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. (U.S. Army National Guard Video by Staff Sgt. Aven Santiago, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
The Region IV BWC individuals:
Spc. Gustavo Olea, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist, 135th Chemical Company, 44th Chemical Battalion, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Illinois Army National Guard.
Sgt. Tyler Engbretson, infantryman, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard.
Spc. Samuel Parker, infantryman, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Indiana Army National Guard.
Sgt. Christopher Swygart, infantryman, Company A, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Indiana Army National Guard.
Spc. John Shields, combat medic specialist, Company C, 334th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard.
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel McCory, carpentry and masonry specialist, Company E, 334th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Iowa Army National Guard.
Spc. Eliot VanPelt, combat medic specialist, Michigan Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters, Michigan Army National Guard.
Sgt. Timothy Downes, religious affairs specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 246th Transportation Battalion, 272nd Regional Support Group, Michigan Army National Guard.
Spc. Gabriel Senf, infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard.
Staff Sgt. Leo Kerfeld, infantryman, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard.
Pfc. Max Walls, military police officer, 324th Military Police Company, 437th Military Police Battalion, 73rd Troop Command, Ohio Army National Guard.
Sgt. 1st Class Justin Landerman, air missile defense crewmember, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Ohio Army National Guard.
Spc. William Warner, infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Wisconsin Army National Guard.
Sgt. Taylor Reichow, multiple launch rocket system crewmember, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment, 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Wisconsin Army National Guard.
State Partnership Program competitors:
Warrant Officer Csaba Demko, recruiter, Recruiting Command, Hungarian Defence Forces.
Sgt. Szilard Fazekas, drill sergeant, 38th Reservists Battalion, Hungarian Defence Forces.
Sgt. Nikola Krstic, infantryman, Military Police Detachment Cobra, Serbian Armed Forces.
Staff Sgt. Ivan Jeremic, infantryman, 72nd Special Operations Brigade, Serbian Armed Forces.
Sgt. Luka Plazinic, infantryman, 72nd Special Operations Brigade, Serbian Armed Forces.
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