By Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Each year, the 4th Infantry Division holds the Best Warrior Competition, which typically includes contests in combatives, land navigation and M249 ranges.
However, this year, due to physical contact restrictions being upheld because of the COVID-19 pandemic, roughly a dozen Soldiers and noncommissioned officers went through an abbreviated version of the competition, where they took a fifty-page written exam and a board before the division’s brigade command sergeants major.
Regardless, the preparation required to come out as the winners of this year’s event for both the NCOs and lower enlisted was challenging, and being ready was key in coming out as the ‘Best Warrior’ for 2020.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, right, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, addresses the winners of the Fort Carson Best Warrior Competition Staff Sgt. Jake Fredette, a medic platoon sergeant of 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., and Spc. Nicholas C. Ambrocik, a military police Soldier assigned to 759th Military Police Battalion at the Best Warrior Competition ceremony at 4th Inf. Div. headquarters May 15, 2020. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
“The exam was harder than I expected it to be,” Spc. Matthew Dintrome, an Army bandsman and percussionist, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div. Band. “Originally, we were told there would be four topics and there were actually five, but it helped me to study for the board the following day.”
At the end of the two-day event, Staff Sgt. Jake Fredette, a medic platoon sergeant of 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. and Spc. Nicholas C. Ambrocik, a military police Soldier assigned to 759th Military Police Battalion came out as the winners of their respective categories.
“I wanted to stand out among my peers. I love to challenge myself, and I love to achieve those goals,” Ambrocik said as to the reasons why he wanted to participate.
During the ceremony honoring the two winners, Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, expressed his pride in Fredette’s and Ambrocik’s individual accomplishments.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Matthew Dintrome, left, an Army bandsman and percussionist, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division Band, participates in a Soldier board during the 2020 Fort Carson Best Warrior Competition at 4th Infantry Division headquarters May 13, 2020. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott J. Evans)
“Thank you for setting the example for the division with your professionalism and performance throughout the year,” McFarlane said.
The two winners also each expressed their appreciation to their leadership who assisted them in winning the event.
“I want to thank my unit and every leader who has opened the door for me and threw me those ‘change ups’ so that I could (improve myself),” Fredette said.
Fredette and Ambrocik received Army Commendation Medals and Certificates of Achievement for their wins, and have advanced to the next round of the Best Warrior Competition, which will take place later this year at the III Corps level at Fort Hood, Texas.