Congratulations to Joe Pace, Jr.!!!
Photo Courtesy Of: Maj. Kevin Hynes, NebraskaNational Guard
(Lincoln)– A Chadron native beat out four other Nebraska Army National Guard Soldiers during a rigorous three-and-a-half-day competition to earn the title of the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Best Warrior.
Spc. Joseph Pace, a truck driver with Chadron’s 1057th Transportation Company, competed for the title during the Nebraska Army National Guard’s annual Best Warrior Competition, held March 18-21 at Camp Ashland, Neb., and the Greenlief Training Site near Hastings, Neb. The competition consisted of 22 different tasks designed to test the competitors’ military skills, physical endurance, mental stamina and tactical agility.
Pace, a 2011 graduate of Chadron High School, competed in the enlisted Soldier category. He is the son of Joe Pace Sr. of Chadron, Neb., and Deborah K. Pace-Spohn of Haxtun, Colo.
According to the winning Soldier, the title feels pretty good. “It hasn’t happened a lot in the past,” said Pace. “I’ve found something that I’m pretty good at.”
Mostly, though, Pace said simply not quitting was a huge difference-maker for all of the competitors. “Everybody did well. Everybody gave it all they got.”
That’s a pretty good lesson to take from the competition, he added. “If you don’t quit, it will pay off. All those days of getting up at 4:30 in the morning while all your buddies are sleeping to go lift and work out pays off.” “I’m pretty tired, but it’s well worth it. I’d do it all again.”
Pace will now represent the Nebraska Army National Guard during the upcoming regional Best Warrior Competition to be held in Texas in May.
