Story by: Sgt. Jenna Reese and Spc. Heather Cullen
CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq - Even in the middle of deployment, Soldiers of the 724th Transportation Company, 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), still manage to find the time for a little old fashion fun and competition.
Maj. Sean Counihan, the commander of the 724th Transportation Company and Avon, Ind., native, decided a little healthy competition was needed and created the Commander's Cup.
The Commander's Cup trophy is a truck tail light on rod with five lug nuts attached to represent the company's five platoons, explained Counihan. The platoon that wins the Cup has to have it at all formations and fully mission capable at all times.
Each platoon is also responsible for decorating their lug nut as their own, said Counihan.
The first Commander's Cup was a volleyball competition held in honor of Thanksgiving, said Spc. Matthew Stephenson, a gunner with the company's 2nd Platoon and Griggsville, Ill., native.
The 2nd Platoon "Wolverines" were the tournament champions, and they added their own touch to the cup by adding reflective tape and painting the platoon's lug nut, said Stephenson.
The second Commander's Cup was a softball tournament held on Dec. 19.
The headquarters and maintenance platoons combined forces to compete and in both games they came from behind to win, a surprise to everyone, because they were considered the underdog team, said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Peterson, a motor sergeant from Fort Bliss, Texas.
Staff Sgt. Johnathan Gregory, the company's senior mechanic, from Reno, Nev., was presented with the Commander's Cup for driving in the winning run.
Staff Sgt. Jay Hammel, a maintenance clerk from Troy, Mo., was named the most valuable player for his overall performance.
The competition for the Commander's Cup will continue.
"All platoons are working hard," Counihan said. "The smack talk has already begun, but it will come down to the platoon that doesn't give up the big play,"