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Illinois Army National Guard State Command Sergeant Major, CSM Phillip Barber, tells war stories during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Anthony Porter of Crete, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Brennen Hoover of Springfield, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Pfc. Nathan Johnson of Arlington Heights, Illinois, reads the operations order as part of the "Mystery Event" during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Nicholas Hester of Jacksonville, Illinois, opens the lockbox as part of the "Mystery Event" during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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A Soldier drags a "casualty" during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Terry Lair of Pekin, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Soldiers warm up for the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Pfc. Nathan Johnson of Arlington Heights, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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A Soldier drags a casualty through smoke cover during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Anthony Porter of Crete, Illinois, writes down a point in land navigation during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Mark Meyers of Woodstock, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Pfc. Nathan Johnson of Arlington Heights, Illinois, drags a "casualty" with smoke cover during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Brandon Elliot of Springfield, Illinois, competes in the ACFT during the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior Competition, April 12-14, at Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Anthony Porter of Crete, Illinois, represented the 65th Troop Command Brigade at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Terry Lair of Pekin, Illinois, was named the Illinois Army National Guard's Noncommissioned Officer of the Year after the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Terry Lair of Pekin, Illinois, was named the Illinois Army National Guard's "Noncommissioned Officer of the Year" at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Spc. Nicholas Hester represented the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and was a runner-up at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Sgt. Brennen Hoover of Springfield, Illinois, represented the 65th Troop Command Brigade at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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Pfc. Nathan Johnson of Arlington Heights, Illinois, looks back at the 10-mile mark of the 12-mile road march during the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition. Johnson was named the Illinois Army National Guard's "Soldier of the Year" at the Illinois Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition from April 12-14 at the Sparta Training Area in Sparta, Illinois.

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