Thirteen South Dakota National Guard citizen-warriors competed for the title of “Best Warrior” at the state-level Best Warrior Competition at West Camp in Rapid City from Sept. 6-8, 2024, the competitors came from across the state to compete for the title of Soldier of the Year or Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
The BWC is an annual competition consists of a series of events that test the physical and mental abilities of Soldiers and are held to reward Soldiers for their hard work, to seek the best of the best to represent the state in future competitions, and to develop leaders so they can take this experience back with them to their units and be mentors and leaders there.
“You as Soldiers are the embodiment of the excellence and culture of the South Dakota National Guard, the kind of young men and women you are empowers the ‘what we do’ and coming together for a competition like this demonstrates our tight-knit community,” said the SDNG’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Mark Morrell during the award ceremony. “I’m really impressed by each of you and am very appreciative of the leaders you are of our culture.”
Enlisted competitors:
Spc. Dylan Buschenfeld, Spc. Joel Christensen, Spc. Emil Leetch, Spc. Kyle Minert, Spc. Tyler Nicke, Spc. Seth Pippenger, and Spc. Andrew Wipf.
Non-commissioned officer competitors:
Sgt. Nickolas Hora, Staff Sgt. Logan Long, Staff Sgt. Gregory Melhbrech, Staff Sgt. Seth Schinke, Staff Sgt. Jaedon Van Roekel, and Staff Sgt. Lindsi Van Woert.
13 South Dakota National
Guard citizen-warriors competed at the state-level Best
Warrior Competition (BWC) at West Camp in Rapid
City from September 6-8, 2024, the competitors came
from across the state to compete for the title of Soldier
of the Year or Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Enlisted competitors: Spc. Dylan Buschenfeld, Spc. Joel
Christensen, Spc. Emil Leetch, Spc. Kyle Minert, Spc.
Tyler Nicke, Spc. Seth Pippenger, and Spc. Andrew
Wipf. Non-commissioned officer competitors: Sgt.
Nickolas Hora, Staff Sgt. Logan Long, Staff Sgt.
Gregory Melhbrech, Staff Sgt. Seth Schinke, Staff Sgt.
Jaedon Van Roekel, and Staff Sgt. Lindsi Van Woert.
(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Breanne
Donnell)
This year’s Soldier of the Year 2025 is Spc. Joel Christensen from Sioux Falls and runner-up Spc. Andrew Wipf of Harrisburg.
Spc. Joel Christensen was
announced the ‘Soldier of the Year’ after the South
Dakota National Guard state-level Best Warrior
Competition held at West Camp, Rapid City, S.D. from
September 6-8, 2024. Pictured with SDNG’s Adjutant
General, Maj. Gen. Mark Morrell (left) and the SDNG’s
Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus
Stacey (right). (U.S. Army National Guard photo by
Staff Sgt. Breanne Donnell)
This year’s NCO of the Year 2025 is Staff Sgt. Lindsi Van Woert from Sioux Falls and runner-up Staff Sgt. Jeadon Van Roekel from Rapid City.
Staff Sgt. Lindsi Van Woert
was announced the ‘Non-commissioned of the Year’
after the South Dakota National Guard state-level Best
Warrior Competition held at West Camp, Rapid City,
S.D. from September 6-8, 2024. Pictured with SDNG’s
Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Mark Morrell (left) and the
SDNG’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj.
Marcus Stacey (right). (U.S. Army National Guard
photo by Staff Sgt. Breanne Donnell)
“Congrats to everyone for making it to this point, it was a great competition, and thank you all for having such an incredible attitude. The staff has said you all absolutely epitomized what it means to be a team player and you helped each other out to make this a successful competition,” said SDNG’s Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Marcus Stacey.
The competition includes events that simulate real-world combat scenarios, such as land navigation, weapons proficiency, obstacle courses, and urban warfare simulations. Written exams and oral boards where Soldiers are assessed on their knowledge of military doctrine, tactics, and leadership skills. And a final selection boards where they are evaluated by boards of senior sergeants major on their appearance, military bearing, and knowledge of critical Army topics.
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