‘A little extra push’: Alabama soldier finds strength in leadership at Best Warrior Competition

Sweat drips from U.S. Army Spc. Jaden Hughes’ brow as he races down a beaten path on a rural military reservation in Maryland. He’s over 800 miles from home, the humidity and heat intensifying as the sun rises – but he’s not alone. Thirteen other competitors hailing from National Guard organizations across the United States march with him, and a familiar face waits at the finish line.

Hughes and his fellow guardsmen enter day two of the Army National Guard’s 2025 National Best Warrior Competition by taking on the Medal of Honor Run: a five-mile trek through rolling terrain consisting of five stations that pay homage to the daring and demanding missions that Maryland’s historic Medal of Honor recipients endured. By the fifth station, the physical exhaustion and heat are taking their toll.

But as Hughes takes hold of the Alabama state flag and runs it to the finish line, a familiar face is there, cheering and shouting words of encouragement: the Alabama Army National Guard’s (ALARNG) State Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. John Elmore.

“Unity goes from the top down and the bottom up,” said Spc. Hughes, a supply specialist in the ALARNG 731^st Combat Sustainment Support Company. “When you see great leaders out here supporting younger soldiers fighting and putting in the effort … it gives you that little bit of extra push.”

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, navigates the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, throws a knife as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP) Lane hosted by members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, speaks with Command Sgt. Maj. John Elmore, State Command Sergeant Major of the Alabama Army National Guard, after the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, prepares to take on the eight-lane Army Warrior Task (AWT), July 14, 2025, at Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, navigates an obstacle course as part of the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, navigates the eight-lane Army Warrior Task during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conducts land navigation in low-light conditions as part of the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, in Sideling Hill Creek State Park, Hancock, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington)

Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, employs a training hand grenade as part of the eight-lane Army Warrior Task during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, poses for a picture as he prepares to appear before the board during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, employs a training hand grenade as part of the eight-lane Army Warrior Task during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conducts land navigation in low-light conditions as part of the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, in Sideling Hill Creek State Park, Hancock, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, speaks with Command Sgt. Maj. John Elmore, State Command Sergeant Major of the Alabama Army National Guard, after the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, navigates the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, navigates the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, fireman carries a medical-training mannequin during the State Partnership Program (SPP) Lane hosted by members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, speaks with Command Sgt. Maj. John Elmore, State Command Sergeant Major of the Alabama Army National Guard, after the Medal of Honor Run as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

Hughes won the 2025 ALARNG Best Warrior Competition in December 2024 and snagged another win again during the National Guard’s 2025 Region III Best Warrior Competition in April 2025. His back-to-back success has earned him a place among the nation’s best in the Army National Guard’s 2025 National Best Warrior Competition.

The 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, hosted by the Maryland National Guard, is an annual event that unites soldiers and noncommissioned officers from seven regions across the United States. Competitors face a demanding series of physical and mental challenges designed to test their military expertise, resilience, and dedication to the warrior ethos for the opportunity to advance to the Best Squad Competition.

“All of this (Best Warrior Competition) is about building teams, building unity, building tomorrow’s soldiers and leaders,” Command Sgt. Maj. Elmore said. “Spc. Hughes is building lifelong friendships that he’s going to have 20 years from now. They’re going to look back at this and they’re going to have that story that they’re going to be able to tell.”

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, carries his state’s flag to the finish line during the Medal of Honor Run at the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jaccob Hearn)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, is briefed by a member of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina as he prepares to run the State Partnership Program (SPP) Lane during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, participates in a 15-mile ruck march as part of the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 17, 2025, in Hancock, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Tom Lamb)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, throws a knife as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP) Lane hosted by members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, participates in a Medal of Honor Run, during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Lauderick Creek Military Reservation in Edgewood. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Andrew Crowl)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, conducts land navigation in low-light conditions as part of the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, in Sideling Hill Creek State Park, Hancock, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Thaddeus Harrington)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, and U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Lee, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist in the Montana Army National Guard’s 83rd Civil Support Team, participate in the Marine Combat Fitness Test during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by SPC Andrew Crowl)

U.S. Army Sgt. Luke Entz (left), an infantryman in the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 2-134th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), and U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, participate in a ruck march during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill State Park, Hancock, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. La Marr Patterson)

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter air drops a case of Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) for the 14 Best Warrior Competitors during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, uses a spotting scope to locate a target during the State Partnership Program (SPP) Lane hosted by members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, poses for a picture as he prepares to appear before the board during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes (right), a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, interacts with his fellow Montana National Guard competitors, Spc. Canyon Blassingame (middle), an infantryman in the 163rd Combined Arms Battalion, and Sgt. Matthew Lee (left), a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist in the 83rd Civil Support Team, during the 2025 National Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, at Sideling Hill Creek State Park in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan A. Renfro)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, locates mines by probing during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 14, 2025, at Blum Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. La Marr Patterson)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, writes a nine line medevac request during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 15, 2025, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kimberley Glazier)

U.S. Army Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, a supply specialist in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, participates in the River Operations exercise on the Potomac River with his fellow competitors during the 2025 National Guard Best Warrior Competition, July 16, 2025, in Little Orleans, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Tom Lamb)

Spc. Jaden Hughes, a supply sergeant in the Alabama Army National Guard’s 731st Combat Sustainment Support Company, smiles for the camera during an interview with National Guard Public Affairs before the start of the competition, July 14, 2025, at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation, Maryland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jaccob Hearn)

“I said earlier, ‘I’m going to save just a little bit for when I pass Command Sgt. Maj. Elmore so he can see me,’” Hughes laughed. “I’m going to save just a little bit of extra push just for him!”

The competition, which began on Monday, July 14, is set to conclude on Friday, July 18, with a final ceremony where the National Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year will be announced.