Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    489th Engineers compete for best of the best

    489th Engineers compete for best of the best

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class andrew guffey | U.S. Army Cpl. Bryan Kyle, a combat engineer, with the 688th Engineer Company, 489th...... read more read more

    NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, UNITED STATES

    01.08.2012

    Story by Spc. Brittney Bradley 

    343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Soldiers from the 489th Engineer Battalion participated in the Best Warrior Competition Jan. 5-8, 2012, at Camp Pike in North Little Rock, Ark.

    With events crammed into two days, the competitors were not only tested physically but mentally as well. Going on little sleep and living in a field environment to simulate combat situations, participants competed in 12 different events with the expectation to become the winner and be named the best warrior in the battalion.

    Events included a standard Army Physical Fitness Test, a written exam, an essay on the Army Values, completing several different warrior tasks, a panel evaluation, a 10K ruck march, land navigation and weapons qualification. Only one could emerge on top to represent their battalion at the brigade level competition.

    Lt. Col. Leslie Templin, Battalion Commander of the 489th Engineer Battalion, whose hometown is Enterprise, Ala., beamed as she spoke about the Soldiers competing in the competition.

    “They represent [the 489th] at BWC for brigade. It’s the greatest feeling knowing that those Soldiers come from me,” said Templin. “Knowing I have great Soldiers to do great things is an amazing feeling.”

    The overall winner of the competition, who also placed first at the company level competition, was Spc. Jonathon Anderson, a combat engineer, with the 383rd Engineer Company, 489th Engineer Battalion, 420th Engineer Brigade, a native of Poplar Bluff, Mo. During the battalion level Best Warrior Competition, he placed first in 8 of 12 events with a total of 86 points out of a possible 96.

    “I put a lot of work and effort into this competition, and I would not have been able to do it without great leadership,” said Anderson.

    The purpose of this competition was to allow Soldiers to implement their training and see who would come out on top. Templin plans to take the overall experience back and generate more training from this competition for the battalion as a whole to strengthen their weak areas.

    “More physical training, land navigation training, and practical Soldier skills training will be done. We need to hone those skills,” said Templin. “Meanwhile, I think the Soldiers enjoyed the competition, enjoyed the opportunity, and showed much pride in representing their company.”

    Soldiers and leaders expressed pride in the competition.

    “It was an honor to compete against the best warriors in the battalion,” said Anderson.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.08.2012
    Date Posted: 01.10.2012 17:54
    Story ID: 82247
    Location: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, US

    Web Views: 315
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN