Leopard Strong Team Competition

Courtesy Photo | On May 23, Spc. Ronnell Roberson, a native of Houston, gives his all as he loads mortar cans for his team, Echo Company, 949th Brigade Support Battalion, in the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Leopard Strong Team Competition. "This is all about team cohesion and hard work," said Roberson. "Also, it is nice to have some farewell fun with our 553rd CSSB friends redeploying back to Fort Hood, Texas soon."  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

06.07.2009

Courtesy Story

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - On an extremely hot Saturday morning in Baghdad, Soldiers of the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade were preparing for a competition that would push their bodies to limits they may have never experienced.

The 553rd CSSB hosted the Leopard Strong Team Competition to test each team's strength, wit, and team working abilities in five events — the mortar ammunition can load, the Crucifix, the dead lift, the F-150 pull, and the 100-meter tire flip.

The competition consisted of six teams within 553rd CSSB — the 317th Maintenance Company; 89th Transportation Co.; 110th Quartermaster Company; Headquarters and Headquarters 553rd CSSB; Delta Co., 949th Brigade Support Battalion; and Echo Co., 949th BSB from the Texas National Guard.

The loading event had each team carry 20 mortar ammo boxes filled with sand 15 meters and load them by hand onto a truck. Each team had four minutes to complete the task, and the best time received the top score.

The Crucifix event saw each team member hold a dumbbell weight with arms locked out to their sides for time. Female team members held eight pounds and male team members held 20 pounds. The total combined time for each team was calculated to determine the winning score.

The third event was the dead lift. Each team member performed as many dead lifts as possible in one minute. Females lifted 115 pounds and males lifted 200 pounds. Each team's correct repetition was counted and tallied for the winning score of points.

The F-150 pull was a battle of wit and strength. Each team was given a ratchet strap and an F-150 placed at the start point. The teams strapped themselves to the truck and pulled it 50 meters across the finish line. Each team had three minutes to complete the task.

The last event was the 100-meter tire flip. While controlling the tire at all times, each team member flipped the tire for 20 meters. Grueling as it may seem, all Soldiers completed their portion in stunning fashion. Each team had four minutes to complete the task, amazingly after the pain and strain each Soldier went through, all teams finished in less than three minutes.

In the end, HHC, 553rd reigned victorious and are taking the trophy back home to Fort Hood, Texas upon their redeployment.

• Date Taken: 06.07.2009
• Date Posted: 06.07.2009 06:26
• Story ID: 34659
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ