Photo By Sgt. Judith Dacosta | A 400th Quartermaster Company Soldier binds the hands of Sgt. 1st Class Thurston F....... read more read more
By Sgt. Judith DaCosta
3rd COSCOM PAO
Soldiers from Team A, 400th Quartermaster Company won a hard earned gold-tinted, 1st place trophy and a guidon streamer for having the highest score in the 548th Logistics Task Force's Mountain Warrior Olympics held at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in April.
It may seem as though one unit was triumphant in these games; however, the Mountain Warrior Olympics benefited all competitors with training in seven events: the Army Physical Fitness Test, a land navigation course, weapons qualification, water survival, a detainee lane, a first aid lane and a 6.2 mile rucksack march.
Out of those events, the water survival, first aid and detainee lanes may have proven most beneficial for addressing threats Soldiers face in theater, while providing realistic, life-saving training.
Each team participated in the physically demanding water survival lane " an event incorporated into the Mountain Warrior Olympics to guard against the threat of drowning downrange.
"Soldiers have been lost crossing bodies of water with all their gear," said Staff Sgt. Michael Ragsdale, the 548th LTF retention NCOIC and NCOIC of the water survival exercise.
"The 548th LTF wants to train Soldiers to maneuver in waters of unknown depths so the troops will be less likely to panic," said Ragsdale.
In the event, team members were required to swim one full lap at the indoor pool while wearing their Interceptor Body Armor and Army Combat Helmet.
"They must also carry a 20 to 25 pound rucksack [while swimming]," said Ragsdale.
Overall, the wet gear could easily add more than 50 pounds to the Soldier's original body weight, he added.
Therefore, competitors packed and repacked the contents of their rucksack into plastic bags to prevent their gear from sinking in the water and to help them stay afloat.
"We came out here to make the unit look good," said Cpl. Christopher Erving, a B Battery, 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Brigade truck commander who had his teammate step on his back as he sprawled out on top of his rucksack to squeeze out any excess air prior to the event.
During the event many team members strove to make their team look good as they flailed, choked and sidestroked their way across the length of the pool in this rigorous training.
"This is just good training," said Ragsdale, "and we have lifeguards standing by to ensure that it is only that, training."
Out of the water, teams competed in the first aid exercise by responding as combat lifesavers to a simulated mortar attack in a small unmarked building near the 548th LTF's unit headquarters.
Soldiers entered the darkened building that Ragsdale and his crew previously trashed with books, paper and overturned tables, to find four casualties staged at the explosion site.
"We have an abdominal wound, a burn victim, a fracture and a chest wound," said Ragsdale.
"This course is brutal," said Ragsdale. Each casualty is worth 25 points. In order to get those points team must correctly assess each casualty and treat them based on the severity of their wounds, he said.
"Doing well in this course means getting 70 out of 100 percent, said Raade. "So far, each team does a good job but little mistakes add up quickly," he said.
Mistakes such as straddling the casualty, cursing upon seeing their wounds and timidly performing rescue breathing, said Raade
Soldiers correctly assessed several of the casualties and appreciated the constructive criticism after completing the challenging course.
"It was an interesting event and we had a lot of fun," said Sgt. Zachariah Shuttle, a 400th Qm. Co. motor pool team leader.
"There weren't any hints or paths to follow and the situation was very realistic," said Spc. Raul F. Toro, another 400th Qm. Co. Soldier who participated in the first aid event.
A third event trained Soldiers to detain probable criminals while protecting themselves and others from possible harm.
"In this event each team must react to an improvised explosive device, capture three probable insurgents, transfer detainees to the designated collection point, and interact with the media," said Staff Sgt. Thomas Riley, a B 5-113th FA truck master and NCOIC for the morning iteration of the detainee exercise.
"This is good training for Soldiers to see their strong and weak points in handling insurgents," said Staff Sgt. Jerry Dickerson, a B 5-113th FA grader for the detainee course.
"Soldiers have been properly binding the arms of the detainees with zip ties and remembering to limit what they [insurgents] see and hear for operational security," said Dickerson.
On the other hand, Soldiers were required to search, oftentimes unsuccessfully, volunteer detainee Staff Sgt. David Nickerson, a 641st Quartermaster Detachment supply sergeant who claimed to be harmless throughout the exercise.
"Soldiers swear "we checked him, we checked him"," said Dickerson, "yet a square alarm clock with wiring and tape would make it through to the end of the exercise unchecked."
"The enemy is not going to give you the bomb until he is ready," said Nickerson. "Soldiers have to check the detainees thoroughly regardless of personal discomfort," he said.
"This exercise was a good refresher and we continue to improve," said Sgt. Rhody Merisier, a 400th Qm. Co. Soldier and detainee guard during the exercise. "In the end we pulled together to get the detainees where they needed to be."
Soldiers of various military occupational specialties competed in the Mountain Warrior Olympics for fun, glory and esprit de corps; however, these Soldiers have obtained more than a good experience.
They have gained a better knowledge of the role they have committed their lives to as Soldiers and warriors. Whether in the water or on land " despite difficulties Soldiers encounter with the enemy, lives may be saved when the familiar determination to win from these games spills out onto the battlefield.
Training improves the Soldier's everyday performance making the Mountain Warrior Olympics more than a series of games. It is a tool to hone the resource of Soldiers that comprise the daunting weapon that is the U.S. Army.
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| Date Taken: | 05.12.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2006 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 6366 |
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| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 37 |
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