REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –
Nine Soldiers from across the Army Materiel Command enterprise are getting ready to compete in this year’s Best Warrior Competition at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, July 9-11.
Soldiers are vying for the title of the command’s top Soldier and noncommissioned officer. They will face challenges testing their physical and mental strength. Soldiers arrive at the destination prepared for anything, packing their personal military equipment to face three days of scenario-based tests. Army Materiel Command’s Command Sgt. Maj. Rodger Mansker said these Soldiers are ready for the challenges ahead.
“Participants in this year’s Best Warrior Competition represent the best of the best within the AMC Enterprise,” said Mansker. “Challenging scenarios will test the competency and expertise of their warrior tasks and battle drills.”
Winners will be announced during a luncheon at the Summit on July 13. The top Soldier and NCO will compete at the Department of the Army level competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, and the Pentagon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5.
Two participants, Spc. Jonathan Vazquez and Sgt. John Caruthers IV, will compete for the title of AMC’s Best Soldier. Caruthers was a specialist when he competed at the subordinate command level.
This year’s competitors include the following:
ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND
Staff Sgt. Charles Cryoskie
Staff Sgt. Charles Cryoskie is a contracting NCO with the 715th Contracting Team, 921st Contracting Battalion of the 413th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The Florida native began his career with the Arkansas Army National Guard in 2000. Throughout his career, he served across the world, including deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Cryoskie’s long-term goals are to serve in the military for more than 20 years and to teach at Northwest Florida State College. Outside of work, he enjoys beta testing software programs, running, playing sports and traveling.
Sgt. 1st Class Enes Memic
Sgt. 1st Class Enes Memic serves as a contracting NCO with the headquarters, 409th Contracting Support Brigade in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The New York City native started his career 12 years ago. He is airborne qualified. His assignments have included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Memic’s long-term goals are earning a doctorate degree, executing at least one more deployment and earning the rank of command sergeant major. His interests are fitness, endurance sports and robotics.
ARMY SUSTAINMENT COMMAND
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Graves
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Graves is a maintenance supervisor with the Army Field Support Battalion in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The Delaware native started his career 14 years ago and he is air assault qualified. His assignments include deployments to Iraq. Graves’ long-term goal is to become a command sergeant major. He enjoys serving his community by volunteering for veterans’ organizations.
Staff Sgt. Christopher Hart
Staff Sgt. Christopher Hart serves as a senior mechanic with the Army Field Support Battalion in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The Oregon native started his Army career 15 years ago. He served across the world, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His long-term goals include continuing his civilian and military education, earn the highest rank possible and retire after 30 years of service. His hobbies include spending time with family, woodworking and learning to play an instrument.
Staff Sgt. Matthew Martin
Staff Sgt. Matthew Martin is a movements NCO for Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. He started his Army career four years ago. The Georgia native’s long-term goals are to become a detachment sergeant and get selected as a Green Beret. Martin’s hobbies include bowling, fishing and learning at least one new thing every day.
Sgt. John Caruthers IV
Sgt. John Caruthers IV serves as an intelligence analyst for the Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal. The Kentucky native joined the Army in 2015. Since then, Caruthers served across the world, including Ukraine and South Korea. His long-term goal is to become a U.S. Embassy analyst. In his free time, Caruthers enjoys volunteering, participating in 10K running events, playing intermural sports, fishing, playing soccer and ice hockey.
SURFACE DEPLOYMENT AND DISTRIBUTION COMMAND
Sgt. Timothy Scheid
Sgt. Timothy Scheid in as an information technology specialist and is the communications chief for the 689th Rapid Port Opening Element, 832nd Transportation Battalion, 597th Transportation Brigade at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The Detroit native started his Army career six years ago, serving at Fort Eustis and Schofield Barracks at Oahu, Hawaii. His long-term goals are to earn the Ranger tab and retire from the military. His interests include hockey, snowboarding and paintball.
Spc. Jonathan Vazquez
Spc. Jonathan Vazquez is as a support systems specialist with the 688th Rapid Port Opening Element, 832nd Battalion, at Fort Eustis. His career began just over a year ago and this is his first assignment. The Puerto Rico native’s long-term goal is to complete Officer Candidate School. Vazquez is interested in all types of sports. He was a track and field athlete, and a CrossFit competitor.
TANK-AUTOMOTIVE AND ARMAMENTS COMMAND
Staff Sgt. Duane Butler
Staff Sgt. Duane Butler is as a wheeled vehicle maintenance NCO with the TACOM Integrated Logistics Support Center in Detroit. In his 13-year career, he has served in various assignments, including deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Miami native’s long-term goals include retiring from active duty and becoming a small business owner. Butler enjoys going to the park with his kids, spending time with his wife and traveling with his family.