Finish strong: Besting the Best Warrior Competition

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman De'Jon Williams
  • 136th Airlift Wing
Bastrop, TX --  The Texas Military Department Best Warrior Competition brought together 28 members of the Texas Army and Air National Guard as well as partner Czech Republic and Chilean service members.

Texas Air National Guard Senior Airman Chase Barnett, 136th Security Forces Squadron member, was one of those participants who conquered the grueling four-day event Feb. 28 - March 3, 2018 at Camp Swift near Bastrop, Texas.

"It was difficult but rewarding," said Barnett. "Some of the challenges I didn't know very well, but I learned through it. It's been a great opportunity to learn."

Barnett was tested mentally and physically during the competition, which included a 12-mile ruck march, weapons qualifications, combat first aid, an obstacle course and a mystery event that pushed him to his limits.

"He started off kind of slow but now that he's done with everything I think he finished really strong," said Senior Airman Colin Crump, 136th Security Forces Squadron member and BWC sponsor. "He continued to progress through the competition. Rifle was his best event, he's a really good shot."

Crump followed Barnett every step of the way as his sponsor. He ran three events right beside him and motivated him through the ruck march, obstacle course and the mystery event.

"They woke us up at 3 a.m. in the morning for the ruck and that was brutal," Barnett said, "but Crump was there with me the whole time. He turned on his music and we were jamming out which helped a lot."

With help from his fellow Airmen, Barrett excelled despite challenges and completed the competition. Looking back on the event, he acknowledged a sense of accomplishment and openness to the idea of possibly competing again in the future.

"I wouldn't mind doing it again with a little more preparation," Barrett said. "It was fun and it pushed me to see things differently as a Security Forces member and Airman."

For more information about members of the 136th Airlift Wing, visit www.136aw.ang.af.mil.