Justin Jordan is a competitor.

Whether it's as cornerback on a semi-professional football team or playing in an innocent game of pickup tackle football, he's in the game making plays.

And when it comes to his duties with the 504th Military Police Battalion, he competes with the best of the best. Jordan and his three-man team represented Joint Base Lewis-McChord's 504th MP Battalion in the 15th annual MP Warfighter Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Sept. 18 to 21. The competition featured about 100 of the best Army's MP teams that pushed Soldiers to their limits with mental, physical and technical tests.

The MPs competed in multiple challenges such as a timed weapons disassembly and reassembly competition, battle drills, repelling from a 35-foot tower, a physical endurance test, a combatives competition and active shooter scenarios. The final event was a 15-mile road march.

"And all of this is done on like four hours of sleep," Jordan said.

This year was Jordan's third year competing. The last two years the 24-year- old from Oklahoma was the team leader.

The 504th MP Battalion finished second last year, but this year failed to finish in the top three.

The 508 MP Battalion also represented JBLM but did not place. Fort Bliss in Texas took first.

JBLM holds tryouts to form the teams and training typically begins in May. Jordan and his unit didn't return from a deployment until July and had a late start on preparing for the September competition.

Jordan, a former all-state prep football player, didn't think he would be able to compete in various activities when he joined the Army five years ago. The MP Warfighter Competition is not just part of Jordan's job, but it's also a fun challenge for Jordan.

"I love competitions and I love sports and this is like doing a sport," he said.

Jordan has found other ways to continue his involvement in athletics on and off post. This is his third year playing flag football on post. His team won the championship last year and this year they remain undefeated.

Always the playmaker, Jordan averages three touchdowns a game - just on offense.

"We put up numbers," Jordan said. "I'm the explosive player."

Playing flag football opened doors to more opportunities including playing rugby for the Tacoma Nomads, playing minor league football for the Tacoma Invaders as well as playing semi-professional football for the Tacoma Cobras.

When it comes to planning for the future Jordan is uncertain if he wants to continue his career in the Army or pursue an education and athletic career at the collegiate level. If he had his way Jordan would be making his next step to No. 1-ranked Louisiana State University.