Two Missouri Army National Guard women have received top honors as soldiers of the year.

Briana Beierhart, a citizen/soldier from Maysville, Mo., serving in Springfield with the 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, won as Missouri's enlisted soldier of the year. Sgt. Jessica Zarate, from Macon, Mo., serves in St. Joseph with the 35th Special Troops Battalion. Ms. Zarate won Missouri's coveted non-commissioned officer of the year title.

Each of the women previously won at their respective brigades. The state contest pitted brigade finalists by challenging their skills.

A former cosmetologist, Miss Beierhart found a home in the Missouri National Guard that challenged her. "There's no end to what you can do in the Guard," she said.

The contest took place over three cold days in March at Camp Crowder, in Neosho, Mo.

"It's the competition itself that drives me," said Ms. Zarate, a mechanic at the armory at Woodbine Road and Faraon Street. "I love getting out there, getting dirty, challenging myself, firing the weapons - some of them for the first time, actually."

The citizen/soldiers endured sub-freezing temperatures and several inches of snow, competing in a physical fitness test that included a two-mile run. Indoors, soldiers tested basic skills that included reassembling two machine guns and a rifle from parts combined into one bucket. They also took a written exam and tested their Army knowledge before a brigade-level board of command sergeants major and the state commander, Sgt. Maj. Matthew Jenkins.

"The fact that they've won shows the strength of women," Mr. Jenkins said. "But when it comes right down to it, they're soldiers," he said.

Miss Beierhart and Ms. Zarate will compete in the regional contest against other National Guard soldiers from five states this month. If successful, they'll compete nationally against regular Army soldiers, as well as other regional National Guard and Army Reserve winners.

Marshall White can be contacted

at marshall@npgco.com.