Competition puts medical Soldiers to the test in Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Richard Stowell | Spc. Christopher Velasquez, Task Force 31 Medical Soldier of the quarter, poses with a task force coin at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Oct. 14, 2014. Velasquez, a biomedical equipment technician with the 51st Medical Logistics Company, was presented the coin for winning the Soldier of the quarter competition. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Rich Stowell)  

AFGHANISTAN

10.18.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Richard Stowell 

U.S. Forces Afghanistan

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - They came from across Afghanistan to match strength, skills, and smarts. Soldiers from Task Force 31 Medical, which has detachments in all major commands in Afghanistan, participated in a Soldier and noncommissioned officer of the quarter competition at Bagram Air Field, Oct. 10-13, 2014.

Staff Sgt. Lakeisha Bronson, a medical supply specialist from Columbus, Georgia, was one of the principle organizers of the competition.

“I thought it would be a good opportunity to do this in a combat environment where it would be more realistic, and also to help motivate Soldiers and build morale while we’re over here,” Bronson said.

The 20 Soldiers who participated, including five NCOs, said they had a great time challenging themselves and learning from one another.

Sgt. Joseph Karslo, a combat medic with the 72nd Medical Detachment serving in Kandahar, won the NCO category.
“The most rewarding and motivating thing is to hear everyone say outstanding job,” Karslo said. “Even though we are competing, we are part of a team.”

Karslo, a native of Washington, New Jersey, added that the competition was honing skills that will make him a better NCO.
Spc. Christopher Velasquez, who was named the Task Force 31 Medical Soldier of the quarter, agreed.

“It’s clearly been good for me,” said Velasquez, a biomedical equipment technician from Yuma, Arizona. “I love to compete. For me it’s a self-assessment, and I’ve learned a lot.”

“If I had the opportunity to do it again, I would,” he said.

That opportunity was the product of weeks of planning and the monumental effort of a handful of NCOs to arrange events, even during a high operational tempo, according to Bronson.
Participants weren’t the only ones who traveled. The personnel who organized, facilitated, and judged events came from across Afghanistan.

Bronson, who is stationed at Kabul International Airport, said the most challenging part was trying to coordinate so many small components of the task force from a remote location, but it was worth the effort, according to Bronson.

“It was successful. With all the training, preparation, and planning we did, the Soldiers have been able to learn and enjoy themselves,” she said.

Task Force 31 Medical Command Sgt. Maj. David Franco praised the efforts of his NCOs for planning and executing the competition.

“Soldiers want to achieve,” said Franco. “They want to do good stuff and excel, and competitions like this gives them the opportunity.”

Franco presided over the board portion of the competition.
“It’s an outstanding motivator,” he said.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2014
• Date Posted: 10.18.2014 09:33
• Story ID: 145412
• Location: AF
• Hometown: COLUMBUS, GA, US