Photo By Saska Ball | U.S. Army Spc. Samuel Gonzales plots a point on a map during the land navigation...... read more read more
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FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.—How would you like waking up before the sun even rises and participating in a mentally, physically and emotionally grueling day consisting of eight events running back-to-back for 15 hours straight?
That’s exactly what competitors of the 7th Psychological Operations Group faced while competing in their Groups Best Warrior Competition here.
“I know the competitions at the higher levels are more intense and I have to identify the individuals that are physically and mentally prepared to compete,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Phillip Houseworth, command sergeant major for 7th POG, based at Moffett Field, Calif.
Competitors started the day by taking the Army Physical Fitness Test that consists of two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and then a two-mile run. From there they change out of the Improved Physical Fitness Uniform into their Army Combat Uniform and completed a 10k ruck march.
For the rest of the competition, competitors have two things with them at all times—a 35-pound ruck sack and their sponsor.
Unlike other best warrior competitions where the sponsor only prepares the soldier for the events, 7th POG takes on a different spin to the role of the sponsor. Aside from putting rounds down range during the weapons qualification portion and taking the APFT, sponsors participate side-by-side in each event next to their competitor.
“We think it benefits the sponsors because they put so much time and effort into preparing their competitor,” said 1st Sgt. Jim Diamond, first sergeant for Headquarters Support Company, 14th PSYOP Battalion and the noncommissioned officer in charge for the 7th POG BWC. “Also, it gives us two people that have been through the process that can then share and implement a lot of their knowledge into training at the unit level.”
Once off the ruck march course, competitors are ushered into the weapons assembly area where they assemble and conduct a functions check on six different weapon systems ranging from the 9mm pistol to the Mk 19 grenade launcher. Next up is the zero and qualification range for the M4 carbine rifle.
Without skipping a beat, competitors are taken to their next event, a land navigation course. Since there is no rest for the weary, competitors continue the day with more marching with their 35-pound ruck. However, this time instead of a map and compass to find their way around, they use a Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver to find points. Each point brings a new test to the competitors in the form of a common task test ranging from providing first aid to reacting to indirect fire.
And if all that wasn’t enough, the competitors ended the night by writing an essay.
“It was a long day,” said Spc. Samuel Gonzales, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 17th PSYOP Bn. “It was kinda hard to find what was in my head for a little bit. I had to take a minute to sit down and think about things, where I had my cheat sheets, try to pull information out of the back of my mind that I knew I had somewhere.”
The final event, an oral board, rounded out the competition the following morning. Competitors had to fight through their exhaustion from the previous day’s events to maintain their mental sharpness and military bearing to prove they were indeed the best of 7th POG.
Spc. Samuel Gonzales won the category of Best Enlisted and Staff Sgt. Michael Garza of the 304th PSYOP Company won the category of Best Noncommissioned Officer. Both competitors will move on to represent 7th POG at the United States Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Best Warrior Competition at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 28-May 3, 2013.
| Date Taken: | 04.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2013 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 105830 |
| Location: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, CA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NC, US |
| Hometown: | MOFFETT FIELD, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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