Lake St. Louis Guard Soldier conquers Best Warrior Competition

Spc. Noah Cutshall preps to land after completing one of the nine obstacles at Camp Crowder’s new Air-Assault qualified confidence course. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

Spc. Noah Cutshall preps to land after completing one of the nine obstacles at Camp Crowder's new Air-Assault qualified confidence course. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

CAMP CROWDER, Mo. - After being named Soldier of the Year at both the battalion and brigade levels, all eyes were on Spc. Noah L. Cutshall as he recently competed in the Missouri National Guard's Best Warrior Competition at Camp Crowder in Neosho.

True to form, Cutshall, a native of St. Charles, did not disappoint, winning the Best Warrior title and in the process distinguishing himself as one of the top Soldiers in Missouri.

Cutshall, 22, is a vehicle mechanic with the 3175th Chemical Company, headquartered at historic Jefferson Barracks in south St. Louis County. Last fall he was named 2010 Soldier of the Year for the 835th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion; then won the same honor for the 70th Troop Command, the largest brigade in the Missouri National Guard.

Winning, let alone competing in Best Warrior, is no easy task. The grueling, four-day event includes land navigation exercises, weapons qualification, a water survival course, full-contact combatives and a 12-mile rucksack march.

"The rucksack march was without a doubt the most difficult," Cutshall said. "It comes down to mind over matter. You are going to hurt. Your feet are going to swell and blister and you can either keep going or sit down and take your boots off. That's when you reach down inside of yourself and ask the Lord to give you the strength to keep going."

And keep going Cutshall did, completing the march with a 35-pound pack in 2 hours, 35 minutes, a feat not lost on his fellow Soldiers.

"Spc. Cutshall has truly shown his dedication to himself, the unit, and the Missouri National Guard," said Sgt. Robert Stulce, administrative sergeant for the 3175th. "He has contributed a great deal of time and energy preparing for this well-deserved honor."

"I'm humbled to be called the 'best' Soldier in Missouri," Cutshall said. "There were a lot of people behind me - supporting me all through the battalion and brigade competitions and cheering me on."

The next challenge for Cutshall is obtaining a degree in paramedic fire science from Lindenwood University. Following that, Cutshall aspires to become an active duty Army Officer.

Spc. Cutshall and his wife, Sarah, currently reside in Lake St. Louis.

He is the son of Mark and Pam Cutshall of St. Charles.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites:
www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard;

Spc. Noah L. Cutshall competes in the combatives portion of the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Crowder in Neosho. (Photo by Rachel Knight/Missouri National Guard)