Virginia National Guard Soldiers representing the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett claim top honors at the 2021 VNG Best Warrior Competition, held March 18-21, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Spc. Michael Choi, an infantry Soldier assigned to the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th IBCT, won Soldier of the Year, and Sgt. Samuel Johnson, and infantry Soldier assigned to MTC, won Noncommissioned Officer of the Year after four days of grueling challenges designed to test the competitors physically and mentally. Soldiers faced a written exam, a 6-mile ruck march, land navigation, a 3-gun event, a physical fitness challenge and the Air Assault obstacle course, as well as Army Warrior Tasks and an appearance board. Choi and Johnson will represent the Virginia National Guard at the regional-level competition later in 2021.