HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard allowed officers to compete in its annual Best Warrior Competition for the first time alongside its non-commissioned officers and enlisted Soldiers, March 26-29.

Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur Fredericks, the Connecticut National Guard’s senior enlisted advisor, proposed the idea of adding officers to the competition after seeing it done in other states.

“The competition, in general, builds more effective leaders,” Fredericks said. “Leaders that demand more of themselves, they demand more of their teams, and I just saw it as an opportunity, not only for them to just improve themselves, but also to set a great example by competing alongside their Soldiers.”

When Fredericks took over three years ago, there were only seven competitors. He believed the competition was slowly dying and worked to reinvigorate it by adding the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, or GAFPB, and the Norwegian Ruck March.

Since then, 12 competitors have been awarded the GAFPB, and 15 earned the Norwegian Ruck March badge. Adding officers this year was part of his goal to expand the competition.

“I can tell you already, by virtue of people seeing two officers compete this year, we already have people asking to do it next year, Warrant Officers, too,” Fredericks said. “Warrant officer and officers would compete together, and they’ll compete in state for Officer of the Year.”

There is no Regional or National Best Warrior Competition for officers, but Fredericks plans to speak with his peers in other states to expand those opportunities.