LATHAM, NY -- Fourteen of the New York Army National Guard's most accomplished Soldiers and sergeants will compete for the Best Warrior title during a two-day event at Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters here on Saturday and Sunday March 22-23.

WHO: Soldiers representing the New York Army National Guard's five brigade- level commands from units located across the state.

WHAT: The annual Best Warrior Competition in which Soldiers and Non-Commissioned Officers are tested on their physical fitness, ability to conduct military tasks like the use of different weapons, land navigation, and military knowledge. The top Soldiers and NCOs go onto compete in a regional competition with other National Guard Soldiers to determine who represents the Army National Guard in an all Army competition later this year.

WHEN: Members of the press interested in covering the event are invited to attend between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, March 23, 2013. This is when the Soldiers will be tested on military tasks that include weapons disassembly and assembly.

WHERE: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters, 330 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, 12110.

Coverage Opportunities:

Reporters will have a chance to interview Soldiers and New York Army National Guard leaders about the competition. Visual imagery opportunities include Soldiers conducting military task training.

Reporters must contact Col. Richard Goldenberg at 518-786-4581 or (cell) 518-727-7314 for access to this secure military facility.

BACKGROUND:

The New York Army National Guard's Best Warrior competition is the first stop in a series of competition that can end up with a National Guard Soldiers of NCO competing against Soldiers and sergeants from the Army Reserve and the Active Army to pick the best all around Soldier in the entire Army.

Each of the New York Army National Guard's brigade-level commands-The 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 369th Sustainment Brigade, the 153rd Troop Command and the 106th Regional Training Institute-nominate three competitors. Traditional part-time Guard Soldiers in the rank of private to specialist and a part-time sergeant ranging in rank from sergeant to sergeant first class compete. The units also nominate a full-time sergeant who is in the Active Guard and Reserve program to compete.

The Soldiers and NCOs take a physical fitness test and must pass a weigh-in to ensure they meet the Army's height and weight standards. They are graded in their ability to do hands-on military tasks and also take a written test on military knowledge. The Soldiers are tested on their knowledge of maps and land navigation and also judged on their military bearing and appearance in uniform during an appearance before a board of senior non-commissioned officers. During that board appearance the Soldiers must answer questions fired at them by the examining NCOs.

The best New York Soldiers go on to compete against other National Guard Soldiers from the northeast at an event held at the New York National Guards Camp Smith Training Site. The Soldiers who finish first there compete against others in the National Guard before going on to the all-army competition.

The Soldiers competing this year are:

Staff Sgt. Valentin Arreola, C 2-108th IN, Schenectady, N.Y.

SPC Rachael Blanchette, Co E 3-142, Centerreach, N.Y.

Sgt. 1st Class David Colliton, JFHQ-NY, Amsterdam, N.Y.

SGT Garrett Cummings, 206th MP Co, Pine Plains, NY

SGT Heather Fox, 204th EN DET, Marathon, N.Y.

SPC Rick Guido, HSC 204th EN, Vestal, N.Y.

Staff Sgt Sean Lockhart, 1-106th RTI , Highland, N.Y.

SPC Wilgene Mejias, 27th Fin Det, Central Islip, N.Y.

SGT Jimsey Roberts, 719th Trans Co, Newark, N.J.

Specialist Casey Rosiak, C 2-108th IN, Scotia, N.Y.

Sgt. 1st Class William Shephard, Co A 642 DASB, East Aurora, N.Y.

Staff Sgt. Mathew Smith, 2-101 Cav , Gouverneur, NY

SGT Ivan Villanueva, 442 MP Co

SGT Michael Wrobel, Co B 642 DASB, Medford, N.Y.