18th Fires Brigade (Airborne) holds games week

Photo By Jacob McDonald | Four-man run teams take off from the start line to begin a four-mile race during the 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne) games week, May 26, on Fort Bragg, N.C. The team from 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment won the race with a team average of 26 minutes, 30 seconds.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

05.27.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Jacob McDonald 

18th Field Artillery Brigade

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - A spirit of friendly competition consumed the Soldiers of 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne) May 24-27 during a brigade games week here.

Teams from every battalion in the brigade competed in basketball, softball, football, volleyball, a four-mile run and tug-o-war in order to determine which battalion was the best in each event.

The 188th Brigade Support Battalion took home the trophies for football, basketball and the tug-o-war. The 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment swept the four-man, four-mile run and also claimed victory in softball. In volleyball, 206th Signal Company spiked the competition.

Winning Soldiers said preparation and teamwork contributed to victory.

"We do a lot of team building work," said Pvt. Elijah Marshall, who played on the champion 206th Signal Company volleyball team. "We didn't know we were going to win, but we knew we would do pretty well because all of us work together well. I think it helped a lot, because we all know each other and how we operate. Everything kind of came together."

Having a lot of heart also added to successful wins.

"I came out here and gave it a lot of heart," said Sgt. Edmundo Rodriguez, 1st Bn., 321st AFAR, who came in first in the four-mile run with a time of 25:54. "It was a good run. Luckily we had a few speed demons with us. We all did it in less than 30 minutes and we came in the first eight. We were aiming for the first 10."

Overall the 1-321 AFAR run team had an average time of 26:30.

Sgt. Fred Buddie, who played on the winning 188th BSB basketball team, said defense and hard work paid off in their win.

"Our guys put it all on the line tonight and just played hard defense," Buddie said. "We stopped some of their key scores and key players."

Soldiers from across the brigade said they enjoyed the break in their regular routine and had fun playing, competing and coming together as a brigade.

"The brigade games are great," said Pfc. Mario Highsmith, 188th BSB football team. "It's a good change of rhythm and gives us a chance to relax a little bit so once we get back into the mission we will be good.

"It really brings the unit together," Highsmith added. "When we are here, everybody is together doing our thing and we are bonding."

• Date Taken: 05.27.2010
• Date Posted: 06.10.2010 10:50
• Story ID: 51175
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US