Diligent Challenge, November '09

Photo By Sgt. Shantelle Campbell | 1st Lt. Heather L. Holub, a Marion, Kan., native and treatment platoon leader with Company C, 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., identify features of a map during the "Diligent" battalion's fifth Diligent Challenge, Nov. 24.  

TIKRIT, IRAQ

11.24.2009

Story by Spc. Shantelle Campbell 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

TIKRIT, Iraq — Soldiers of 701st Brigade Support Battalion and 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., pushed themselves to the limit during the 701st BSB's Diligent Challenge, Nov. 24.

During the challenge, Soldiers proved their skills in treating a casualty, disassembling and reassembling weapons such as the M-4 Carbine assault rifle, .50 caliber and M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon machine guns, calling for fire, pushing a Humvee a half mile and carrying two sand-filled duffle bags two miles.

The Soldiers also overcame the cold and exhaustion of their bodies to complete a 3-mile run and 8-mile ruck march.

"What they get out of this is simple — pride," said Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff D. Moser, the top non-commissioned officer of 701st BSB.

"It's about digging down inside them and knowing who they are," he said, "giving them a gut check and making them realize that when times are hard that they can still pick up the ball and run with it."

For this Diligent Challenge, there were five 10-man teams. All events were point or time evaluated.

"It's remarkable the feeling you get when you complete a Diligent Challenge," said Spc. John Hilton, of Wagoner, Okla., and a laboratory technician with Company C, 701st BSB. "It pushes your body to the physical limits [and] your mind to the mental limits ... you just want to get inside somewhere and stop, but with the encouragement of your teammates and the camaraderie that we have, we're not going to let each other do that."

To close the event, Soldiers returned to the battalion to partake in a dinner and award ceremony where the reigning Diligent Challenge champs, Co. C, 701st BSB gracefully handed over their title to Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 701st BSB as they were announced the winner of the unit's fifth Diligent Challenge.

The company was awarded a streamer, plaque and a job well done.

This was the first Diligent Challenge since the battalion deployed to Iraq this year.

• Date Taken: 11.24.2009
• Date Posted: 11.30.2009 02:49
• Story ID: 42142
• Location: TIKRIT, IQ