Editor’s note: Sgt. Benjamin Kovacic won the state competition on April 6, earning the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year title. Kovacic will compete in the regional competition at Fort McCoy, WI.
This story was also updated to reflect the correct gun models used in the competitions.
A Kent State student is competing in the Ohio Army National Guard’s annual State Best Warrior Competition April 3 through April 6 at Camp James A. Garfield Training Center in Newton Falls.
Sgt. Benjamin Kovacic, a sophomore applied communications major, transferred to Kent State from Malone University and starts taking classes this summer.
“My dad was in the National Guard,” said Kovacic, who celebrates his sixth year in the National Guard in May. “I’ve always wanted to be in some kind of service, and all of the puzzle pieces just fitted together to take me to the Army National Guard.”
Kovacic competed in the November Best Warrior Competition at Camp James A. Garfield Training Center, which advanced him to the state-level competition.
“It feels good to know that I’m part of an elite group, but also [I] get to see who else is a part of this elite group and the different skills and attributes that I can learn from these other people,” Kovacic said. “There’s a lot of really good soldiers over here.”
12 Ohio Army National Guard members and eight Serbian and Hungarian members compete for the state title. If Kovacic wins, he advances to the regional competition next month.
“It feels like I have home field advantage for the most part, but it feels comfortable to be here,” Kovacic said. It’s not like I had to travel a far distance. It’s nice that I’m close to home.”
The event had soldiers showcase their marksmanship with an M17 pistol and M4 rifle, land navigation skills and combat fitness. Soldiers also had to participate in a ruck march and a stress shoot, which measures soldiers on their accuracy and efficiency.
“It helps them develop and build not only their competent skills, but it also allows them to mingle with individuals that they might not [see] on a regular basis,” said Major Aaron Starr, a public affairs officer with Joint Force Headquarters. “The camaraderie that’s built from these events is always fun to witness and watch.”
The winner of the competition is determined by a soldier’s overall score from each event. Scores are tallied on April 6.
“Some of these guys and gals come in not necessarily fully prepared for this event,” Starr said. “They get to discover pieces about themselves when they’re out doing a ruck march or they’re doing land navigation through the wooded areas and the thickets. It’s a journey but also an experience.”
Kovacic said anyone thinking about joining the military should just go for it.
“The benefits that you get from the Ohio National Guard … the skills, the discipline and the friends that you make while in the guard, I mean, it’s completely changed the trajectory of my life for the better.”
Aryn Kauble is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
