Strike Non-commissioned officers, Soldiers vie for top honors during competition

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Sgt. Phillips Casey, a native of Cartersville, Ga., fires his weapon through a window...... read more read more

Photo By Staff Sgt. James Hunter | Sgt. Phillips Casey, a native of Cartersville, Ga., fires his weapon through a window during the stress shoot session as part of the Strike Brigade Combat Team's Non-commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter Competition Oct. 4, 2008. Casey serves with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Multi-National Division-Baghdad.  see less | View Image Page

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.15.2008

Story by Staff Sgt. James Hunter 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

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By Staff Sgt. James Hunter
2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division-Baghdad

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), competed for top honors Oct. 4, 2008 during the Non-commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Quarter Competition.

The primary purpose and overarching theme of the competition was to promote esprit de corps among the Soldiers of the Strike Brigade.

For most competitors, they have only a few things in mind. They want to win, pursue personal and unit pride, and gain recognition among their peers and leaders.

From a BCT perspective, the competition allowed for the senior NCO leaders within the Strike Brigade to gain a "snapshot" of the individual combat skills of the competing Soldiers in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses in unit training plans, said Sgt. Maj. Richard Vangenewitt, operations sergeant major, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

Strike Soldiers, many of whom traveled from various joint security stations in northwest Baghdad, were met with a great deal of daunting tasks during the competition. They would be tested, both physically and mentally, and pushed well beyond their breaking point to preserve a very sacred honor as the best NCO and Soldier within the Strike Brigade.

Well before the sun rose, Strike Soldiers lined up with gear in tow. The competition began with a brief of the day's events, followed by a weigh-in of all competitors.

Then they moved on to the physical training pad where they were tested on their muscular fitness with push-ups and sit-ups. If the competitor did not meet the minimum standards of the Army Physical Fitness Test between the age group of 27-31, they were disqualified from the competition.

Following the APFT events, the competitors had to lay out their equipment needed for the day's events for an inspection.

With the sun just beginning to rise above the horizon, the competitors set off on a 3.7-mile foot march over graveled terrain with a zeroed weapon in hand, 25-pound assault pack, while wearing their Improved Outer Tactical Vest and Army Combat Helmet.

With most competitors running the majority of the foot march, they had to finish within one hour and 15 minutes.

The foot march ended at Caughman Range on Victory Base Complex where they would begin an individual stress shoot session.

The stress shoot consisted of four stations, and each competitor was issued six five-round magazines and one 10-round magazine.

While at a full-sprint, competitors negotiated the stations and fired five rounds from their natural firing hand, and five rounds from their opposite hand at each 9 mm pistol target.

Each station had to be negotiated differently. The stations consisted of sandbagged positions, low walls, high walls and a window.

"Speed and accuracy were essential as competitors received points on how fast they negotiated the shoot and how many hits they got on each station's target," said Vangenewitt. "Competitors were also evaluated on properly loading, unloading, changing magazines and clearing their weapons through the stress shoot. Improper procedures resulted in more time being added to their score. The fastest time received the most points."

Immediately following the stress shoot, Soldiers were then tested on three tasks from the Soldier's Manual for Common Tasks, Warrior Skills. The areas of testing included weaponry, medical tasks and communications skills.

Following the common task testing, the competitors were given a 50-question written exam derived from the common tasks handbook.

Immediately following the written exam, each Soldier had to complete a "mystery" task, which is unknown to them until they begin their task.

Their task was a six-question map reading exam using a pencil, map and protractor that the competitors had to complete in 30 minutes.

After completing their mystery event, the competitors then prepared for their last event of competition. They went before a board, compiled of Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Schroeder, the brigade's senior enlisted leader, and each battalion command sergeants major, where they were grilled on basic military knowledge and leadership.

Overall, the most a competitor could score was 1,000 points. At the end of the competition, less than one point separated the winner from the runner-up.

Winning the NCO competition was Sgt. Jeremy Clark, a native of Sylvania, Ohio, who serves with Company C, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.

Spc. Daniel Brooks, from Troop B, 1-75th Cav. Regt., won the Soldier of the Quarter Competition.

Winning the competition did a lot for Clark, who said he believes the competition gives an NCO the chance to showcase his excellence in all aspects of their job as a leader.

"It filled me with a keen sense of accomplishment; but, more importantly, it has inspired and motivated my Soldiers to want to compete and win in future competition boards," Clark said.

With many of the competitors located at remote outposts throughout northwest Baghdad, their ability to properly prepare for this competition was limited.

However, those truly dedicated would by far showcase their abilities, said Schroeder. The time for preparations is there, but how they decided to use that time to better themselves and prepare for the competition would be the separating factor.

As the competition went on, many were physically and mentally exhausted; however, times like this is when the true spirit of the warrior shines through. The cream rises to the top, and the wheat is separated from the chaff.

"It's not the tests that were physically exhausting. It was the frequency in which they were fed to us that wears on your endurance," Clark said.

In the end, the best Soldier and NCO won; however, every Soldier took something away from the event.

"Win or lose, all competitors learned something. Whether that learning came from the competition events or the learning was derived about themselves, their individual strengths or weaknesses, they all got something out of it," Vangenewitt said. "Overall, I believe it not only increases competitor morale but unit morale too as units strove to win in the spirit of the competition."

Schroeder said he felt the units as well gain a great deal out of this competition as the Soldiers get an insight on what they can improve upon, which allows for them to make improvements as individual Soldiers. As the Soldier improves, so do the Soldiers around him as they aspire to follow in his footsteps and want to compete and gain recognition as the brigade's top Soldier.

The competition brought out the best and brightest within the Strike Brigade and those operationally attached. They represented their respective units to the highest of standards.

At the end of the day, each competitor stood strong with a sense of pride in knowing they represented themselves and their unit to the best of their ability.