7 News Belize

Coast Guard’s Best Warrior
posted (November 22, 2019)
On Wednesday, we told you about the start of the Belize Coast Guard's 7th Annual Best Warrior Competition. It's a one-of-a-kind competition in Belize where the fittest soldiers from the Coast Guard and the Belize Defense Force challenge each other to complete some of the most physically taxing tasks to find out who is the toughest among them.

Sure, it's about bragging rights, but the commanders of these special units get to see first hand just how ready these men are, should they be called upon for dangerous, demanding missions.

Our news team stopped by today for the final portion of the competition, and we spoke to Commander Gregory Soberanis about the teams who were jostling for bragging rights. Here's what he had to say about the fierce contest among the teams:

Commander Gregory Soberanis - Fleet Commander, Belize Coast Guard
"Really and truly, it has been a wonderful competition, very challenging for the different teams. We commenced this morning at 6 a.m. from Burrell Boom, with the march and shoot, which was the first event for today. All 7 teams departed at 10-minute intervals from the Burrell Boom Park, made their way to the Hattieville gallery range, where they engaged targets 200 meters away. At the end of the first event, we had one battalion from the BDF was in the first place, followed by the Special Operation group from the Coast Guard, and third the strike team. It was really competitive on the road this morning. All teams were pushed to their limits, but at the end of the day, BDF came out on top."

"We're in the final event, which is the crucible, and really this is a challenging event. We have 2 heavy logs that you must carry around in a circuit. We have that 300+ pounds chain. You have to flip the tires a good distance, and the tires are extremely heavy. You complete with negotiating the obstacle course. So, the guys are going to be extremely challenged on this particular event. And really, it comes down to this event. The competition is really tight. BDF and CSAG are competing for the coveted title of Best Warrior this afternoon."

Reporter
"The competitors, from day one to this point, they must be completely exhausted and going on reserves."

Commander Gregory Soberanis
"Not only are the exhausted, but some of the guys, you see that they're blistered, but this is what this competition is all about. The average person really and truly, would fail, falter, and fall in this competition. And this is why it is the best from the respective units that are here. It is those individuals who are able to push beyond the average threshold of pain. You've got to endure."

Last year's Best Warrior Champion was the Coast Guard's Strike Team. After the scores were tabulated this evening, however, the BDF's One Battalion won this year's competition.

Second place was the Coast Guard's Coastal Special Operation's Group, and third went to the Coast Guard Strike Team.

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