Photo By Sharilyn Wells | Sgt. David Farr, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Portage, Mich., low crawls...... read more read more
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — U.S. Army Reserve soldiers endured the unseasonably hot temperatures of Pennsylvania’s farmlands in different events that challenged them both physically and mentally.
Soldiers of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command of Fort Wadsworth, N.Y, came together here, April 8 through 12, to compete against each other to find out who would be their Command’s Best Warrior.
Each competitor was challenged to write an essay on what Army Value they thought was most important, endure an Army physical fitness test, navigate their way through the thick terrain of Fort Indiantown Gap, walk six miles with a 50-pound ruck sack, expertly shoot a weapon, crawl and jump their way through an obstacle course, perform flawlessly with their Warrior Tasks, and present themselves in a professional manner to sergeants major from around their command.
Though pushed to their limits, two winners emerged victorious: Spc. Matthew Chasin, 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion out of Warwick, R.I., won Best Warrior for the enlisted ranks and Sgt. David Farr, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion out of Portage, Mich., won Best Warrior for the noncommissioned officer ranks.
“The toughest part was preparing for the competitions, because we knew what we would be doing event wise, but we just didn’t know exactly how it was going to turn out,” Chasin explained. “Especially with the weather. We didn’t know it was going to be this hot.”
Farr added that the heat didn’t help with his toughest event, the 10-kilometer road march.
“Six miles with a 50-pound ruck on your back … it’s just not that much fun,” he smiled. “But [the competition] was overall a good learning experience; it was my first time doing it. I definitely think every soldier should get the chance to do it.”
Both Farr and Chasin agreed that the preparation that they did individually and with their sponsors made them successful in the competition.
“I did a lot of extra PT [physical training], rucking, studied warrior tasks and land navigation and practiced my marksmanship,” explained Chasin. “I just tried to go over everything I could beforehand.”
“I’d be in class during the day, go to work, and then would work out around 11 [p.m.] to midnight,” agreed Farr, who is currently a college student.
After each day of grueling competition, Chasin said that the best part was being able to hang out with all the other competitors from around the commands and country, and getting to know them.
Even though they won their Command’s Best Warrior Competition, they are far from relaxing. Chasin and Farr will continue on to the next level by competing in the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Best Warrior Competition to be held in May at Fort Bragg, N.C., and hopefully representing the whole command at the U.S. Army Reserve competition.
Things they need to work on?
“I will definitely be studying more for the board,” said Farr, who also relied heavily on the mentorship of his sponsor, Staff Sgt. Patrick Easley.
The best part of winning?
“Being able to actually win, not just compete,” smiled Chasin. “To go back to my unit and say, ‘I won.’”
| Date Taken: | 04.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2013 14:26 |
| Story ID: | 106019 |
| Location: | INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US |
| Hometown: | PORTAGE, MI, US |
| Hometown: | WARWICK, RI, US |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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