Starting at 4 a.m., competitors in the 2026 Region VII Best Warrior Competition began Day 2 with an Unknown Distance Road March at the Santa Fe Training Complex.
Source: New Mexico National Guard (via Facebook)
Photos By Douglas Mallary, NMNG Public Affairs Office: Courtesy
SANTA FE, N.M. – Starting at 4 a.m., competitors in the 2026 Region VII Best Warrior Competition began Day 2 with an Unknown Distance Road March at the Santa Fe Training Complex.
In addition to 16 competitors representing the National Guard from eight states and territories, this event is hosting guest participants from Fiji, Kazakhstan and Tonga.
The National Guard competitors vying for the title of Region VII Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year are as follows.
- Arizona: Sgt. Michael Fouts and Spc. Alejandro Barraza
- California: Staff Sgt. John Wagner and Spc. Eric Kwon
- Colorado: Staff Sgt. James Vaughan and Spc. Ean Bell
- Guam: Sgt. John Rabino and Spc. Lorenzo Osborn
- Hawaii: Sgt. Vu Nguyen and Spc. Brock Lindman
- Nevada: Sgt. Jarrett Nilsen and Spc. Matthew Powell
- New Mexico: Staff Sgt. Alexander Bell and Spc. Trevor Brohard (both from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry)
- Utah Army National Guard: Sgt. Bonham Brewer and Spc. Caden Leonard
After an early morning start and an Unknown Distance (10 miles) Road March, participants in the 2026 Region VII Best Warrior Competition moved on to Patrol Lanes.
These lanes are modeled after those used in testing for the Expert Soldier Badge.
Events included weapons disassembly and reassembly, identifying and employing hand grenades, employing the M-18A1 Claymore antipersonnel mine, employing an AT4 anti-tank weapon, map reading/land navigation, patrolling/movement to contact, and treating and evacuating battlefield casualties.
Participants face the fitness challenge tomorrow morning.
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