U.S. Air Force photo/Pascual Flores ALL THE BEST -- Command Sgt. Maj. Najee Lunde, center, awards Spc. Paul Bauducco, left, and Sgt. John Graniello, right, as winners of the Best Warrior Competition at the 77th Sustainment Brigade headquarters. Graniello and Bauducco were awarded the Army Achievement Medal and will go on to compete in the 316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command BWC.

Five Soldiers from the 77th Sustainment Brigade participated in a challenging competition that tested their mental and physical abilities Nov. 14 and 15.

The Soldiers competed on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to determine who would represent the brigade in the 2010 Best Warrior Competition at the command level, noncommissioned officer and enlisted categories.

The competitors faced two demanding days of testing in physical fitness and warrior skills to determine who would carry the torch to the next level of competition.

The first event began in the early morning hours at the two-mile track near Doughboy Loop, where the contestants took a physical-fitness test consisting of push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run.

The remainder of the first day involved weapons qualifications, day and night land navigation utilizing the Army’s new Global Positioning Systems compass and testing warrior task skills. This consisted of radio transmission communications, medical treatment and survival tasks.

"I like a challenge and to see how far I can push myself," said Sgt. John Graniello, one of the competitors.

The final day of competition began early Sunday morning as the group tested their endurance and stamina in a timed 10-kilometer rucksack march.

"The BWC is good training and its competitive; and maybe I’m a competitive guy who likes the competition," said Spc. Paul Bauducco, one of the participants.
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