Specialist Emanuel Moore, a Selma native, will be put through some of the toughest, most grueling challenges he has ever had to face in his military career this week, as he competes in the Army’s 2015 Best Warrior Competition.

Moore, who represents the 1st Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, is among 26 soldiers who have been selected to compete in the weeklong challenge that tests soldiers’ physical and mental capabilities.

“It means a lot to me to be able to represent the state of Alabama, my hometown and my family. It really does,” Moore said Monday. “So far since I’ve been here I’ve met a lot of true professionals, and it is a blessing to be here. I’m just excited to be able to compete, and I hope for the best.”

Monday marked day two of the first phase of the competition, and Moore said the first two days were centered on physical tests.

“Right now we’re dealing with some regular Army tasks, which are PT tests, land mass and obstacle courses,” Moore said, adding he wasn’t sure what lies ahead.

“We’re getting told day to day, so I don’t know what else to expect, but right now it seems pretty straight forward as far as all of the other competitions.”

The first phase of the competition, which takes place in Virginia at Fort A.P. Hill, consists of physical fitness tests, a written examination and essay, firing weapons and a demonstration of warrior tasks and battle drills, which are what Moore expects to be the hardest part.

“There are a bunch of tasks that we have to do that are in the manual, and they can change from any one of those tasks,” Moore said. “At USASOC (United States Army Special Operations Command), the warrior tasks and battle drills were physically, emotionally and mentally challenging events, and I expect they’ll be the same here.”

Moore said it was no easy task getting to this point, but he was well prepared.

“My MTOs made sure that I was physically ready for this competition by making me do a lot of stuff, such as PT,” Moore said. “We did some drills in our gas mask and always had mock wars within the company that we had to attend, and [they’re] just always pushing me to do my best.”

With the daunting tasks that are still ahead of him, Moore said he is just blessed to be a part of the competition.

“It is a blessing to be here, and I know that all of the hard work that I put into it, the other competitors put the same amount of work into it, so I was confident but humble about coming here and being able to compete with the Army’s best warriors,” Moore said.

Moore will find out Wednesday if he advances to the second part of the competition, which is held in Washington, D.C.

Phase two will test soldiers on their military appearance and bearing by having them answer questions from a panel of some of the Army’s top ranking officers.

The winner will be announced Oct. 12 at the award ceremony, which is from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

“If I’m able to win this competition it will be a great honor to represent not only my command but the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and my family,” Moore said.

“It would mean a lot just because I put a lot of work into this, and it is always good to see yourself put a lot of work into something and at the end you get the results that you want. If you work hard and have faith in God, you can accomplish anything.”

To follow Moore’s progress through the competition, visit www.army.mil/bestwarrior/.