For a second consecutive year, the Alabama National Guard will be showcasing the highest levels of military discipline, strength and dedication at the National Best Warrior Competition. This time, however, two soldiers are set to represent the state at the national level.
After a stellar performance at the 2025 Region III Best Warrior Competition in South Carolina, two Alabama National Guardsmen, Spc. Jaden Hughes and Staff Sgt. Nathanael Sanders, are prepared to push themselves even further.
Region III includes the National Guards from most southeastern states and two territories, with one junior enlisted soldier and one noncommissioned officer (NCO) each competing from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Best Warrior Competition is a series of intensive physical, mental and strategic tasks that test an individual’s military knowledge, strength, endurance and lethality. The competition escalates from a state-level event to the regional and national competitions with only one soldier and one NCO advancing from each stage.
After winning the soldier category for Region III, Hughes, who serves full time with the 731st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, recalled, “I was at the awards ceremony last year and I remember thinking, that’s going to be me next year.”
Hughes did just that, and this year he was the one on stage accepting an award.
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Norris McCall, South Carolina state command sergeant major, recognizes Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, Alabama National Guard, for winning the 2025 Region Three Best Warrior Competition (BWC) during an awards ceremony at McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina. (Sgt. Duran Jones / U.S. Army National Guard)
Spc. Jaden T. Hughes from Alabama earned the title of Best Soldier and Sgt. Matthew P. Golden from Florida earned the title of Best Noncommissioned Officer at the Region Three Best Warrior Competition. The Regional BWC is a multi-day event promoting excellence and resiliency among all National Guard Soldiers. Golden is unable to attend the National Best Warrior Competition, so Staff Sgt. Nathanael Sanders from Alabama National Guard’s 20th Special Forces Group will compete in his place. (Sgt. Duran Jones / U.S. Army National Guard)
Spc. Jaden T. Hughes, Alabama National Guard, left, and Sgt. Matthew P. Golden, Florida National Guard, pose for a photograph after winning the 2025 Region Three Best Warrior Competition (BWC) in their respective categories at McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina. Golden is unable to attend the National Best Warrior Competition, so Staff Sgt. Nathanael Sanders from Alabama National Guard’s 20th Special Forces Group will compete in his place. (Sgt. Duran Jones / U.S. Army National Guard)
Originally, Hughes earned the Region III top spot alongside a Florida National Guard NCO, Sgt. Matthew Golden.
However, due to a schedule conflict, Golden declared himself unable to attend.
Now Sanders, who finished only a few points behind, is slated to compete, meaning the Alabama National Guard is preparing to send two competitors to this year’s competition.
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Elmore, the Command Sergeant Major of the Alabama Army National Guard, said this achievement may be unique.
“I won’t say it hasn’t happened before, but I can’t remember one state ever sending two competitors to the national competition before,” Elmore said. “It says a lot about the level of training going on in Alabama right now and the NCOs who are leading the way.”
Sanders, a member of 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), was a fierce competitor and took gold in the German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge event during regionals.
“I realize how fortunate I am to be presented with this opportunity, considering that this is a second chance for me after placing second at the Region III competition,” Sanders said. “At nationals, I carry the weight of representing not only the state of Alabama, but also the NCOs I competed against.”
Sanders continued, “They were some of the finest soldiers I have had the privilege of meeting as well as the toughest competitors I have had the honor of facing. I owe it to them to perform at the highest level I can going forward.”
Hughes said, “Sanders and I were constantly in each other’s ear during events, motivating each other during the PT test, calling each other’s shots during shooting or walking through steps on weapons or medical skills together.”
Twenty Army National Guardsmen from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands participated in the M4-rifle zeroing and range qualifications of the Region Three Best Warrior Competition (BWC), held at the South Carolina National Guard McCrady Training Center in Columbia, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted the Region Three BWC 2025 April 21-26. During the regional phase, competitors must negotiate various military challenges to test individual combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. On the second day of the Region Three BWC, soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the M4-rifle zeroing and range qualifications, then continued with the M17 qualification, obstacle course and day and night land navigation. (Staff Sgt. Ryan S. Gay / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the shoot, move, communicate and survive portion of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Region III phase, at Clinton House Range in Clinton, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three’s BWC 2025 April 21-26. During the competition, participants navigated military challenges designed to test combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Basic Fitness Test, shoot, move, communicate and survive events, call-for-fire and medical lanes. (Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the shoot, move, communicate and survive portion of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Region III phase, at Clinton House Range in Clinton, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three’s BWC 2025 April 21-26. During the competition, participants navigated military challenges designed to test combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Basic Fitness Test, shoot, move, communicate and survive events, call-for-fire and medical lanes. (SSG Jessica Elbouab / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty Army National Guardsmen from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) during the Region III phase of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at the South Carolina National Guard’s McCrady Training Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Hosted by the South Carolina National Guard April 21-26, the Region III BWC 2025 was open to all enlisted National Guard soldiers. On the opening day of the competition, soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the ACFT before moving on to knowledge boards, written essays and public affairs interviews. (Sgt. Duran Jones / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge swim during the Region Three Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three BWC April 21-26. During the competition, soldiers tested their combat skills and Army doctrine through a series of challenges. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed a 12-mile ruck march, a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge swim and lanes focused on weapons and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives defense. (Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge swim during the Region Three Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three BWC April 21-26. During the competition, soldiers tested their combat skills and Army doctrine through a series of challenges. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed a 12-mile ruck march, a German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge swim and lanes focused on weapons and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives defense. (Staff Sgt. Brian Calhoun / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the shoot, move, communicate and survive portion of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Region III phase, at Clinton House Range in Clinton, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three’s BWC 2025 April 21-26. During the competition, participants navigated military challenges designed to test combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Basic Fitness Test, shoot, move, communicate and survive events, call-for-fire and medical lanes. (Sgt. Duran Jones / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty Army National Guardsmen from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) during the Region III phase of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at the South Carolina National Guard’s McCrady Training Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Hosted by the South Carolina National Guard April 21–26, the Region III BWC 2025 is open to all enlisted National Guard soldiers. On the opening day of the competition, soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the ACFT before moving on to knowledge boards, written essays and public affairs interviews. (Staff Sgt. Ryan Shane Gay / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty Army National Guardsmen from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) during the Region III phase of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at the South Carolina National Guard’s McCrady Training Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Hosted by the South Carolina National Guard April 21–26, the Region III BWC 2025 is open to all enlisted National Guard soldiers. On the opening day of the competition, soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the ACFT before moving on to knowledge boards, written essays and public affairs interviews. (Staff Sgt. Ryan Shane Gay / U.S. Army National Guard)
Twenty National Guard soldiers from eight states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands competed in the shoot, move, communicate and survive portion of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Region III phase, at Clinton House Range in Clinton, South Carolina. The South Carolina National Guard hosted Region Three’s BWC 2025 April 21-26. During the competition, participants navigated military challenges designed to test combat skills and doctrinal knowledge. Soldiers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and the U.S. Virgin Islands completed the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge Basic Fitness Test, shoot, move, communicate and survive events, call-for-fire and medical lanes. (SSG Jessica Elbouab / U.S. Army National Guard)
Sanders spoke on the bond they forged, saying, “We kept each other focused and motivated for the next event, regardless of how it seemed we were performing.”
They said they plan to bring this support and brotherhood into nationals.
The pair will be following in the footsteps of Staff Sgt. Kirt Finnell, an Alabama National Guardsman who won “NCO of the Year” at the National Best Warrior Competition in 2024.
Earlier this year, the Alabama National Guard’s competition marksmanship team won the 2025 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship, which Elmore said further proves Alabama’s soldiers are elite, ready and lethal.
“Alabama’s been in the spotlight a lot lately,” Elmore said, “but that [Small Arms Championship] was also the 10th year in a row a National Guard team has won. It speaks volumes about the dedication of these part-time soldiers that they keep performing at the very highest military levels.”
Hughes said the competition is the pinnacle of a lifetime of preparation.
“It’s been very rewarding growing up here in Alabama,” Hughes said. “I’ve been here my whole life, and I just want to make everyone proud. This isn’t just for me; it’s for the entire state.”
As Hughes and Sanders prepare to head into the national spotlight, they do so with experience, confidence and the full support of their state and their Alabama National Guard family.
The 2025 National Best Warrior Competition will take place in July and culminate in a squad of Guardsmen selected to compete against the best of the Active Duty U.S. Army.
