Photo By Sgt. Maj. Nathan Hoskins | Fort Hood, Texas, native Spc. Gregory McCarter, an aviation power plant repairer for...... read more read more
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By Spc. Nathan Hoskins
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Drink it, jump into it, swim in it, and anything else a Soldier surrounded by sand can think of when confronted with a swimming pool.
That, along with some other fun activities, was what Soldiers of the 2nd "Lobo" Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, were doing on their organizational day, June 14.
"(Organizational day) is a chance for Soldiers to get out and enjoy themselves away from work. It kind of fosters a competitive attitude between the companies, but in the end, of course, we're all one team," said Capt. Thomas Whipple, commander of Echo Company "Renegades," 2-227th.
The Lobos participated in a four-on-four basketball tournament, horseshoes, volleyball and the much anticipated pool events, said Whipple a Lyndonville, N.Y., native.
Among the pool events were the relay race, the biggest splash competition and the belly flop competition, said Stafford, Va., native Spc. Erica Drew, a radio communications security repairer for the Renegades.
"The belly flop (competition) is judged by the biggest splash, technique and how much pain is perceived to be given" said Drew, who consequently won the event.
While deployed, a lot of Soldiers may feel like they are repeating the same day over and over, but this fun-filled day pulled them from their daily routines, said Drew.
"(The organizational day) really breaks up the redundancy," she said. "I would normally be staring at a radio hoping it will do tricks."
Sacramento, Calif., native Spc. David McKenna, an aviation operations specialist and battalion jokester, felt the organizational day was a much needed stress reliever.
"I would much rather be having fun out here (than in the office). I understand you have to take (your job) serious, but sometimes you just have to let loose," he said after chasing people to try and give them hugs while wearing a gross amount of sunscreen lotion
After the relay race was finished and large amounts of water was displaced by the biggest splash contest, bellies turned pink due to the belly flop contest. The cringes of pain were evident not only by those participating, but also in those who were poolside, watching.
Once all the events came to a close, there was a tie between E Co. and D Co., 2-227th, which was decided by a race across the length of the pool by the commanders of the companies.
The Renegade commander, Whipple, took on New Orleans native, Capt. Craig Dupuy, commander of D Co.
After the waves subsided and the thrashing of legs and arms came to a halt, Whipple took home the win in the pool events for his company only to be challenged at a game of poker.
Yet, it wasn't all fun and games. The Lobos took time to remember the brigade's fallen heroes by conducting a missing man formation. The activities in the pool nearly stood still as the formation of five helicopters composed of one CH-47 Chinook at the lead and four UH-60 Black Hawks, passed nearby.
As the birds made their second pass, one of the Black Hawks broke ranks and flared up out of the missing man formation in tribute to the fallen Soldiers.
Although many of the Soldiers will feel the results of their day in the sun during their next shift, it appears, by the smiles on their faces, that it was well worth it, said Whipple.
"I'm enjoying myself, but more importantly my Soldiers are enjoying themselves," he said. "It gets Soldiers out, gets them physical, (and) lifts their spirits."
| Date Taken: | 06.19.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2007 14:09 |
| Story ID: | 10903 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 302 |
| Downloads: | 264 |
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