Georgia Guardsmen battle in combined-MSC competition

Official Statements

• 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, November 9: “The Georgia Army National Guard’s 78th Troop Command and 78th Aviation Troop Command named their Soldiers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Year during an awards ceremony Nov. 8, 2026, at Fort Stewart, Georgia, closing out the Fiscal Year 2027 Combined Best Warrior Competition.

  Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Nicoli, a maintenance supervisor representing the Marietta-based 122nd Regiment (Regional Training Institute), earned Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the 78th Troop Command. Spc. Clinet Reier, a horizontal construction engineer representing the Fort Stewart-based Land Dominance Center, earned Soldier of the Year for the command.

  Sgt. James York, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter repairer, earned Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the 78th Aviation Troop Command. Spc. George Arendale, an RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle repairer, earned Soldier of the Year for the command. Both represented the Marietta-based 2nd Battalion.

  Eight Soldiers competed Nov. 6-8, with five representing the 78th Troop Command and three representing the 78th Aviation Troop Command. On the first day, competitors completed a combat fitness test, combat water survival training, a weapons round robin and an essay.

  On the second day, competitors completed a land navigation course, fired the M17 pistol and M4 carbine in qualification events, and negotiated an obstacle course. They also demonstrated individual movement techniques and completed a medical and communications event, a public affairs interview and a written exam.

  On the final day, competitors completed a nine-mile ruck march and appeared before a military interview board. Nicoli finished first in the ruck march with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes.

  “I had to give it to God and thank Jesus Christ, because his ministries is what got me through the competition,” Nicoli said.

  Command Sgt. Maj. Ryan Peterson, command sergeant major of the 78th Troop Command, said the eight competitors chose to show up from among about 2,100 Soldiers across the two commands.

  “It’s not the ruck march that is hard. It’s not the land nav. It’s raising your right hand and volunteering to be here,” Peterson said.

  All four winners will represent their respective commands at the Georgia Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition in spring 2027.”