Alaska's Best Warrior Competition Award Ceremony

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .mil

A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.

Secure .mil websites use HTTPS

A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, pins the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Soldier of the Year, Spc. Adam Macro, a military police Soldier from Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

230521-Z-XC677-1001

Six Soldiers from across the Alaska Army National Guard salute during the national anthem as part of the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. The Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega)

Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, presents the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Sgt. Robert Dzabic, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer, during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

230521-Z-XC677-1004

Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, presents the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year, Sgt. Robert Dzabic, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer, during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega)

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

230521-Z-XC677-1002

Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of the Alaska Army National Guard, pins the Army Commendation Medal on the 2023 Soldier of the Year, Spc. Adam Macro, a military police Soldier from Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion during the Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega)

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

230521-Z-XC677-1007

Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, left, the state command sergeant major of Alaska Army National Guard, proudly recognized the participants of the 2023 Best Warrior Competition during an awards ceremony held at Camp Carroll, Alaska, May 21, 2023. Throughout the week of May 16, 2023, the Best Warrior Competition tested Soldiers on their physical and mental readiness as well as their knowledge of Army doctrine and common warrior tasks. (Alaska National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Katie Mazos-Vega)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard State Command Sgt. Maj. John Phlegar, announced the winners of the 2023 Alaska Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition during an awards ceremony at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson May 21. Phlegar presented Army Commendations Medals to Sgt. Robert Dzabic, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter repairer with 2nd Battalion, 211th General Support Aviation Battalion, as the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Spc. Adam Macro, a military police Soldier from Alpha Company, 49th Missile Defense Battalion, as the Soldier of the Year. Soldiers from across Alaska participated in the four-day competition that tested the Soldiers’ physical and mental stamina, as well as their knowledge of military tactics and procedures.

AKOM logistics experts key to Typhoon Halong response
November 26, 2025 — The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Region of Alaska is approximately the size of the state of Louisiana. Despite its size and population of about 25,000 residents scattered across 48 communities, there isn’t a paved network of highways connecting outlying villages to the hub city of Bethel, so logistics can be complex and require much planning. Bethel, located near the Kuskokwim River about 60 miles downriver from the seacoast, is home to the Alaska Army National Guard Readiness Center and its adjoining helicopter hangar, both critical logistical hubs for the Alaska Organized Militia’s ongoing response to the devastating impact of Typhoon Halong on the region... MORE

Alaska National Guard named top performer in sexual assault prevention efforts
November 24, 2025 — At a time when sexual assault prevention remains a national priority across the U.S. military, the Alaska National Guard’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program has been recognized as one of the strongest programs in the country following a recent National Guard Bureau review... MORE

Alaska Naval Militia sailor provides crucial aviation coordination for Operation Halong Response
November 20, 2025 — Bethel is 56 miles from the mouth of the Kuskokwim River and the adjoining salt water of the Kuskokwim Bay and the Bering Sea. The Western Alaska hub city is 1,136 miles from the small but crucial Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility at Ketchikan and is 1,762 miles from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, the closest major Navy installation... MORE

AKOM’s communication team launches critical connectivity during disaster
November 17, 2025 — Following severe storms that struck Western Alaska earlier this month, members of the Alaska Organized Militia’s Communications and Information Systems Directorate, known as J6, deployed new handheld satellite tracking devices called SHOUT Nanos to maintain critical communication links with response teams operating in isolated communities... MORE

Alaska Organized Militia continues recovery support across Western Alaska
November 4, 2025 — Members of the Alaska Organized Militia continue to assist communities across Western Alaska following the devastating storms that struck the region in early October. Since activation, more than 150 Alaska Organized Militia service members have supported 13 communities through debris removal, infrastructure repair, residential assessments, and evacuation support in coordination with the State Emergency Operations Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ... MORE

Alaska Organized Milita delivers food to isolated Nunapitchuk school
October 31, 2025 — BETHEL, Alaska — Alaska Organized Milita (AKOM) members delivered six pallets of food to a school in Nunapitchuk, a village about 25 miles northwest of Bethel on the Kuskokwim River, via an Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter Oct. 28... MORE

Snowfall tests AKOM crews, but mission to aid Alaskans presses on
October 23, 2025 — Snow moved into western Alaska early Oct. 22, 2025, bringing new challenges to Alaska Organized Militia (AKOM) response operations. Despite the conditions, AKOM crews remain steadfast in their mission to assist fellow Alaskans. ... MORE

Alaska Organized Militia races against winter in Western Alaska
October 22, 2025 — It is a race against time as winter closes in on communities impacted by Western Alaska Storm 2025. Alaska Organized Militia (AKOM) members were rapidly deployed as soon as conditions allowed to support rescue efforts, assess damage, and begin early recovery operations... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard rescues two individuals from aircraft crash in Denali National Park
October 21, 2025 — Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 176th Wing rescued two individuals involved in a plane crash near Ruth Glacier, on Oct. 19. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened the mission in response to a request from the National Park Service to rescue two uninjured individuals involved in a plane crash near Ruth Glacier within the Denali National Park. The Denali National Park encompasses an area of over 7,400 square miles. ... MORE

Alaska Organized Militia builds on historic evacuation as focus turns to community sustainment
October 19, 2025 — The Alaska Organized Militia continues coordinated response operations in support of the State Emergency Operation Center following the 2025 West Coast Storm as the mission focus, pursuant to Governor Dunleavy’s declaration of disaster, shifts from lifesaving to life sustainment and stabilization of communities and survivors. ... MORE