For three days this week, Spc. Ryan L. Montgomery and other Army National Guardsmen from across the United States woke at 2 a.m. in their sleeping quarters at Camp Robinson, put on the uniforms they had laid out the night before and spent 17 hours under physical and mental exertion.
They ran miles at a time in full gear, marched for 12 miles while strapped with 40-pound packs, dragged 200-pound dummies, shot at targets, blew up mines and were tested on their knowledge of the Army -- all in an effort to be dubbed the best of the Army National Guard.
Montgomery, a 22-year-old Hensley native, earned the highest score after 12 events, beating out six other enlisted National Guardsmen to become Soldier of the Year. This was the third straight year that an Arkansas National Guardsman won a top award at the national level, something no other state has achieved, said Lt. Col. Matt Snead, spokesman for the Arkansas Army National Guard.
"First off, it's a relief to win," Montgomery said Thursday, the day after the competition concluded. "It's also a huge honor, not only to continue the legacy here in Arkansas, but to be the representative and voice for the Guard."
North Little Rock's Camp Robinson hosted the National Guard's Best Warrior competition this week for the second consecutive year. Seven enlisted National Guardsmen fought for the Soldier of the Year title, and another seven competed to become Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
Montgomery was named the winner at a banquet Wednesday evening. National Guardsmen from West Virginia, New York, Vermont, Mississippi, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah, Montana, Missouri, Oregon and Colorado competed in both events.
His victory is preceded by two other Arkansans: Sgt. Piero J. Lopez of Sherwood won the Soldier of the Year title last year, and in 2012, Sgt. Matthew S. Howard of Ozark won Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.
"We couldn't be prouder," said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven C. Veazey with the Arkansas Army National Guard in a news release. "After three years in a row, this highlights the quality of Citizen-Soldier we have right here in Arkansas; we have the best of the best."
For the next year, Montgomery will represent the Army National Guard and its approximately 350,000 members by attending Army functions.
"He'll be put out front to showcase the quality of soldier that we have in the National Guard," Snead said. "He'll set an example and attract others that might be interested in the Guard and Army."
Earlier this year, Montgomery beat out fellow soldiers in his unit and then in his brigade to make it to the state Best Warrior competition, which he won in February. This spring, he won the regional competition, which matched him against guardsmen from Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Missouri and Nebraska.
Montgomery, an infantryman in the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, joined the National Guard three years ago. He said he aspires to attend the Air Assault Course, the Basic Airborne Course and Sniper School and eventually move to the Army Special Forces.
For now, he is working full time at Camp Robinson to prepare for the next level of competition.
At the Army's Best Warrior competition in October, he will vie for the highest title against national winners from the active-duty Army and the Army Reserve.
"I'm going to take a couple days right now," Montgomery said. "But I've got roughly three months between now and then, and starting Monday, I'll be right back at it."
Metro on 07/18/2014