‘Best of the Best’ National Guard kicks off competition at MTSU

MTSU student Cole Lukens of Murfreesboro knows the ropes, so to speak, having been 2021 Army National Guard Soldier of the Year after winning the All Guard National Best Warrior competition in Arizona.

U.S. Army Sgt. Zach Kleinfelder of Columbia, Tennessee, is one of two Tennesseans competing this year. He and 13 other participants kicked off the event, being held for the first time in Tennessee, at the MTSU Health, Wellness and Recreation Center Monday, July 25.

This year’s competitors performed early morning fitness exercises in the gym area before heading to the indoor pool for the survival swim.

MTSU senior business finance major Cole Lukens, second from right, of Murfreesboro, the 2021 national champion, assists one of this year’s competitors during the kick off the All Guard National Best Warrior competition at the Campus Recreation Center indoor pool. Participants head to other cities to continue the July 25-29 event. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt) — MTSU senior business finance major Cole Lukens, second from right, of Murfreesboro, the 2021 national champion and Army National Guard Soldier of the Year, assists one of this year’s competitors during the kick off the All Guard National Best Warrior competition at the Campus Recreation Center indoor pool. Participants head to other cities to continue the July 25-29 event. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

They travel to other parts of the state — Tullahoma, Winchester, Milan, Nashville and Lynchburg — for other events including land navigation (July 27), day and night shooting (July 28), a first-time valor run and urban terrain combat training (July 28) and wrapping up with a 16-mile road march.

“The best thing about the competition … at the end of the day, you’re all a part of the National Guard. The camaraderie you build for the seven days you are here is unmatched. … You can build a network you can have for the rest of your life,” said Lukens, 23, a senior who is pursuing a business/finance degree.

A Blackman High School graduate and former Blaze wrestler and distance runner, Lukens said winning and competing “was an amazing opportunity to represent not only myself and hard work and dedication, but to represent Tennessee and the entire National Guard at the All Army competition.

Cole Lukens of Murfreesboro shows the competitors how to accomplish their mission in the swim survival portion of the 2022 All Guard National Best Warrior competition in the Campus Recreation Center indoor pool. A senior business finance major, Lukens won the 2021 national competition and Army National Guard Soldier of the Year distinction. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

“That competition isn’t only about representing your state and proving yourself, it’s also a great chance to develop and more enable your skills with some of the best National Guard soldiers in the U.S. Just be better and take those skills back to your unit. Build that tip of the sphere and lethal force that leaders want us to have.”

Kleinfelder said this year’s “competition is amazing. First of all, the individuals putting on the competition are the epitome of professionals. And all the competitors come from all over the nation. All of them are first-class, first-rate individuals and soldiers.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Crockett, the state’s Command Sergeant Major, said seven regions are represented. “They’ve had multiple competitions,” he added. “They are the winners of all those competitions. … They’ve had to put in countless hours to get to the level their at. Their physical fitness levels far exceed the standard. They are the best of the best.”

Participants await the survival swim competition in the MTSU Campus Recreation Center’s indoor pool Monday, July 25. The All Guard National Best Warrior competition kicked off five days of events at MTSU before heading to other cities and venues for more events all week. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Andy Allgrim, facility coordinator for the rec center, said “having the defending champion from MTSU, it means a lot that we can host it here and sounds like it might be something they may try to do for the state year after year.”

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey “Jeff” Holmes, Deputy Adjutant General, Tennessee National Guard — Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes

Former MTSU student Jeff Holmes of Lascassas, Tennessee’s 76th adjutant general with the state’s National Guard, attended, as did U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Warner Ross.

MTSU connections

MTSU alumnus and former Campus Recreation employee Gerald Hill of Lascassas, a sergeant with the Tennessee National Guard, visited with Campus Rec Director Charlie Gregory, Allgrim and other staff. He’s the son of Gerry Hill, retired aerospace associate professor.

Before leaving, Command Sgt. Maj. Hank White of Murfreesboro thanked Gregory and Ray Wiley, Campus Rec assistant director, for hosting both the state competition in February and the national contest.

White’s daughter, Rebecca White, is working on her master’s degree in psychology at MTSU after earning her undergraduate degree. His son, Trey White, will be a junior plant and soil science major in the School of Agricultureafter transferring from Columbia State Community College.

—Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)