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Published On: Oct 04, 2007 12:22 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Oct 04, 2007 12:22 PM
Best Warrior of the Year Competition
Brian Hancock, my husband, is competing at the
Best Warrior of the Year Competition at Fort Lee, Virginia, Oct. 1st-5th,
2007.
As some of you know, my husband has been away for
about 1 1/2 months for the Best Warrior of the Year Competition at Fort Lee,
Virginia. My husband is 38 and he is competing against men and one woman who are
in their twenties. There is only one guy in the competition who is close to
Brian's age. There is a competitor from Romania (part of the Army's European
Division) who is 35 and who was also the 1997 European Martial Arts Campion.
(I'm hoping that Brian doesn't face him during the hand to hand combat
match!)
Right now it is about 85 degrees and 80-90% humidity in Virginia. After one of the 10 mile long ruck march that the competitors had to take in full armored gear in suffocating heat and humidity--5 of them had to be taken to an ambulance for vomiting, heat exposure and low blood pressure. My husband was given oxygen and briefly taken into an ambulance for low blood pressure. The ambulance crew wanted to take him to the hospital, but my husband refused. He wanted to continue on with the events! (That's my crazy husband for you...!)
After refusing entrance to the hospital Brian then continued on with the Land Navigation at Night course. Brian got to bed at midnight and then had to wake up at 2:30AM the next morning for more competitions. (It was really a nap, not sleep!) As the competitions progress they are really more about endurance and being able to function with very little sleep and at a state of almost near exhaustion.
Each day events start at 4AM and then continue on until midnight. Some contestants have already missed some key events because they were either in an ambulance, the hospital or retching. I find it amazing that my husband who is 38 has kept on going while some of the soldiers who are 10-15 years younger have not been able to continue.
I've been praying for my husband every day and I hope that he survives this competition without injury. His last competition required a hospital visit! I'm also praying that he does his personal best at very event. Considering how driven and competitive my husband is--I think that will happen.
The winners of the event will be announced in Arlington, Virginia on October 8th. You can check out the Official Army Website to see pictures and to see the winners when it is announced.
Official Website: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/index.html
Brian's Webpage for the Event: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/warriors/hancock_brian.html
Pictures of Each Days Events: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/images.html
Pictures from the Solider of the Year Competition Website courtesy of the Army
I have to wonder what Brian was thinking when he told the man to roll over and saw the bomb strapped to his chest. It's a good thing that this is just a test--not the real thing. Soldiers have to deal with situations like this regularly.
Right now it is about 85 degrees and 80-90% humidity in Virginia. After one of the 10 mile long ruck march that the competitors had to take in full armored gear in suffocating heat and humidity--5 of them had to be taken to an ambulance for vomiting, heat exposure and low blood pressure. My husband was given oxygen and briefly taken into an ambulance for low blood pressure. The ambulance crew wanted to take him to the hospital, but my husband refused. He wanted to continue on with the events! (That's my crazy husband for you...!)
After refusing entrance to the hospital Brian then continued on with the Land Navigation at Night course. Brian got to bed at midnight and then had to wake up at 2:30AM the next morning for more competitions. (It was really a nap, not sleep!) As the competitions progress they are really more about endurance and being able to function with very little sleep and at a state of almost near exhaustion.
Each day events start at 4AM and then continue on until midnight. Some contestants have already missed some key events because they were either in an ambulance, the hospital or retching. I find it amazing that my husband who is 38 has kept on going while some of the soldiers who are 10-15 years younger have not been able to continue.
I've been praying for my husband every day and I hope that he survives this competition without injury. His last competition required a hospital visit! I'm also praying that he does his personal best at very event. Considering how driven and competitive my husband is--I think that will happen.
The winners of the event will be announced in Arlington, Virginia on October 8th. You can check out the Official Army Website to see pictures and to see the winners when it is announced.
Official Website: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/index.html
Brian's Webpage for the Event: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/warriors/hancock_brian.html
Pictures of Each Days Events: http://www.army.mil/bestwarrior/2007/images.html
Pictures from the Solider of the Year Competition Website courtesy of the Army
I have to wonder what Brian was thinking when he told the man to roll over and saw the bomb strapped to his chest. It's a good thing that this is just a test--not the real thing. Soldiers have to deal with situations like this regularly.
Posted: Thu - October 4, 2007 at 10:58 AM