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BAUMHOLDER, Germany — Eight Soldiers from the 18th Military Police Brigade spent several months preparing to participate in a grueling three-day competition here May 2 to 4 to proclaim the title of “Best Warrior.”
The winners of the brigade competition would then earn the right to move on and compete in the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s Best Warrior competition taking place in Grafenwöhr later in the month.
The event began with competitors testing their limits on numerous Soldier skills. During the event, Soldiers endured a physical fitness test, an obstacle course, weapons assembly, a combatives tournament and 43 cumulative miles of ruck marching.
For those participating, the motivation to volunteer to put their body through so much pain was simple.
“I like challenging myself so this seemed like a natural thing for me to volunteer for,” said the 18th MP Bde. junior officer of the year, Army 1st Lt. Andrew D’Amelio, a platoon leader with the 230th MP Company, 95th MP Battalion, 18th MP Bde., and native of East Haddam, Conn.
It was unanimous to all the competitors that the nine-mile ruck march was by far the most mentally and physically demanding among all the given tasks.
“It’s not just nine miles, its nine Baumholder miles. If it’s not going up its going straight down,” said the 18th MP Bde. noncommissioned officer of the year, Sgt. Mason Martinez, a squad leader assigned to the 230th MP Co., 95th MP Bn., 18th MP Bde., and native of West Covine, Calif.
“I accomplished things that I never thought I could do; you realize how weak your body is and how strong your mind is. If you really put your mind toward something you will accomplish it,” said the 18th MP Bde. soldier of the year, Spc. Natallia Prudnikava, a medic assigned to the 615th MP Co., 709th MP Battalion, 18th MP Bde., and native of Mogilev, Belarus.
The 18th MP Bde. captured the 21st TSC Best Warrior title last year and are confident that it will do it again this year.
“I am extremely confident that we have set our officer, NCO and Soldier up for success to compete in the next levels. They rose to the top of a very competitive and grueling task to earn the title of the best in the 18th MP Bde.,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brenda Curfman, the 18th MP Bde. command sergeant major.
