CLAY NATIONAL GUARD CENTER, Ga. — The Georgia Army National Guard’s Marietta-based 78th Troop Command hosted their 2025 Best Warrior Competition Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2025.

A series of events, such as the Army Combat Fitness Test, weapons qualification, land navigation and combat water survival training, took place over 60 hours and rigorously assessed the competitors’ combat effectiveness and preparedness.

Master Sgt. Bill Connelly, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the competition, discussed how it promotes the lethality and readiness of Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers.

“The way it shapes [78th Troop Command] is that we are preparing our forces now for large-scale combat operations,” said Connelly. “This allows Soldiers to start developing themselves, understanding that both at the core level and basic level.”

After 17 strenuous tasks over three days, Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Cook, the command sergeant major of the 78th Troop Command and senior enlisted leader, congratulated Sgt. Nicholas White, a human intelligence collector representing the Marietta-based 1st Battalion, 122nd Regional Training Institute, as their noncommissioned officer of the year, and Spc. Brandon Lu, a signals intelligence analyst representing the Forest Park-based 221st Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion, as their soldier of the year.

Lu, who has competed in the competition in the past three years, discussed what he learned as a competitor.

“I’m going to take the knowledge I gained back to my unit and prepare for [the] state [Best Warrior Competition],” said Lu. “After all, you will never know what you can accomplish if you don’t try.”

The competition offered valuable lessons and experiences, leading to the implementation of new tactics and advancements within their elements, ultimately supplementing the overall readiness of the Georgia Army National Guard. White, who won the Georgia State Best Warrior competition in 2023, divulged what drove him on.

“For me, it’s important to have unwavering faith,” said White. “You need to have unwavering faith and understand what you’re getting yourself into.”

The 78th Troop Command’s 35 units are essential for ensuring the readiness, effectiveness, and well-being of Guardsmen across Georgia and the nation. Enhancing readiness and lethality is the Georgia Army National Guard’s top priority, and events such as the best warrior competition highlight its most skilled and prepared Soldiers.

“Our Soldiers are prepared to fight and win,” said Connelly, after congratulating White and Lu. “It’s important for the world to know that the Georgia Army National Guard is ready and prepared for anything.”