Photo By Staff Sgt. Takita Lawery | Pfc. Victor Alvarez, a cavalry scout assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry...... read more read more
FORT RILEY, Kan. - It was almost noon, but the cold, 30 degree weather on Fort Riley still didn’t deter the braving Soldiers away from competing to earn a spot on the 1st Infantry Division’s Best Squadron team.
Thirty-two Soldiers assigned to 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stood their ground, ready to participate in the “Quarterhorse” Crucible competition on Quarterhorse Field Nov. 18-19.
The crucible was a two-day competition laden with tasks meant to challenge a Soldier’s mind and body to identify the best candidates to represent the squadron in the 1st Infantry Division’s Best Squad competition and 2015 Gainey Cup, a five-day scout competition held at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The purpose of the Gainey Cup competition is to mentally and physically challenge troopers by rigorously testing their knowledge and tactical skills in the fundamentals of reconnaissance and security operations, according to information from the Maneuver Center of Excellence. It brings cavalrymen together in a healthy, competitive environment while developing scout proficiency that will extend in both the garrison and tactical environments.
Pfc. Victor Alvarez, a cavalry scout assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, said that having the opportunity to compete against other Soldiers on Fort Riley for a spot on the Best Squadron team was an experience that he would never forget.
“I’m competing to build confidence in myself and equipment as well as challenging myself to push harder mentally and physically,” he said. “I will be able to tell people that I tried my hardest.”
The event began with a rotation that tested the troopers’ physical fitness test, vehicle identification, M4, M240B and M2A1 weapons and a call-for-fire proficiency.
Once complete, participants conducted the following events in the shortest time possible: A 15.6 mile ruck march, day and night land navigation, establishing an observation point, communications equipment testing, a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives evaluation lane and medical evaluation lane.
Sgt. Juan Rocha, a cavalry scout assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, said to finish the whole competition would be an accomplishment in itself.
“After the second event, my body was already done,” he said. “I kept pushing myself to show my Soldiers that anything is possible.”
Pfc. Edwin Chandler, a fire support specialist assigned to Troop B, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, said he found out about the competition on short notice, but he was excited to compete for a spot on the best squadron team.
“I’ve never done anything like this, so it would be very cool to say that I was part of the team that won the Gainey Cup,” he said.
The event’s results will be announced at a later date. The 1st Infantry Division’s Best Squadron competition is set for December and the Gainey Cup event is scheduled for March.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2014 14:47 |
| Story ID: | 148395 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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