Obstacle course keeps Recon Platoon on point

Photo By Staff Sgt. Erica Picariello | Johnie Dodd and Sgt. Michael Kadooka, 1st Batallion, 12th Infantry Regiment reconnaissance platoon soldiers, use the buddy system to climb a wall during the "Best Recon Challenge" Aug. 16 at Forward Operating Base Ramrod, located in the Maywand District in southern Afghanistan. Eleven two-man teams competed to put together a radio and receiver, buddy-climb over a wall, properly handle a trauma victim while calling in a medical evacuation 9-line, determine a 10-digit grid, execute mountaineering knots, assemble weapons and compete for marksmanship under stress.  

AFGHANISTAN

08.16.2009

Story by Senior Airman Erica Picariello 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE, Afghanistan -- As the Afghan sun slowly began to rise on the horizon, 22 Soldiers in full battle-rattle faced off in a test of mental and physical strength during the "Best Recon Challenge" Aug. 16 at Forward Operating Base Ramrod, located in the Maywand District in southern Afghanistan.

Eleven two-man teams from the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment's Reconnaissance Platoon, raced against the clock and their opponents during seven tactfully challenging events.

"Squad leaders screened each event for battle-focus," said 1st Lt. Anthony Kivlehan, 1-12 IN Reconnaissance Platoon Leader. "We also tried to encompass physical fitness, teamwork and individual soldier skills."

Teams worked cohesively to put together a radio and receiver, buddy-climb over a wall, properly handle a trauma victim while calling in a medical evacuation 9-line, determine a 10-digit grid, execute mountaineering knots, assemble weapons and compete for marksmanship under stress.

"These are skills the recon platoon uses in Afghanistan," said Kivlehan. "This competition was used as a check-in -learning to make sure that the soldiers are staying on top of their individual and team skills."

The "Best Recon Challenge" was designed to do just that — test teams individually and as a team.

For most teams, the buddy-climb over the wall proved to be the pivotal event that helped the winning team clinch their victory.

"I really liked the wall because it's like the 'great equalizer,'" said Kivlehan. "It doesn't matter if you're big or small; all teams struggle if they don't keep teamwork in mind."
Reconnaissance platoons consider themselves 'elitists' within the battalion, but during this challenge, only one team could be hold the title, "best of the best."

The 1-12 IN Recon squad leaders, Sgt. Alex Tanner and Sgt. Travis Kesner, took the first place title with only a ten-point margin.

"We got over that wall in only 57 seconds," said Kesner. "The other teams really struggled with that challenge giving us a huge over-all advantage."

Even though they clobbered the wall event, other teams could have grabbed the title right from underneath them if they would have let their guard down during the other events.

"We could have easily closed in on the lead," said Kivlehan, who took second place. "All we needed was 10 points and all it would have taken would have been to out-shoot them at the range."

In the end, sharp shooting and teamwork helped Tanner and Kesner clinch an Army Achievement Medal and bragging rights.

"We were bound to win because they put the two best squad leaders in the platoon on the same team," Kesner said with a grin. "Though honestly, I'd rather one of my guys won and I hope they know that even the team that came in last place could still beat any average two-soldier team; they're all the best of the best."

• Date Taken: 08.16.2009
• Date Posted: 09.02.2009 02:45
• Story ID: 38266
• Location: AF