Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Eliverto Larios | Sgt. Patrick M. Paris, a paratrooper assigned to 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Many Olympic athletes would say it is an honor to represent their country. It’s a goal that some always dream of reaching, a dream they want to become reality. Many toil through long, strenuous hours to prepare. Some push their bodies to near breaking. They train to work as a team. Primarily, they train to take home the gold, a symbol that they are the best of the best.
Five Paratroopers from the 2nd Brigade Combat, 82nd Airborne Division, are training for the opportunity to be named the Army’s Best Ranger at the 32nd Annual David E. Grange, Jr. competition, taking place at Fort Benning, Georgia, next month.
Best Ranger, begun in 1982, is a grueling three-day competition to determine the best two-man buddy team in the entire United States Armed Forces.
For many, going up against some of the nation’s most high-speed Soldiers could quickly become a humbling experience.
“Other units have a reputation,” said Capt. Kris Chamales, a Paratrooper assigned to the Brigade’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company. “It’s always good to go up against guys who have a reputation of being bigger, faster and stronger.”
To compete against the best, 2nd BCT Paratroopers have been training for weeks. Under the guidance of a seasoned senior noncommissioned officer, the candidates strive to get as much training in as they can.
Chamales said it’s an intense plan that 1st Sgt. Chad Stackpole is running them through. He said the rigorous training leaves him exhausted at the end of the day and is unlike anything he has ever seen before.
“Physically, it’s the hardest thing,” said Sgt. Patrick Michael Paris, a paratrooper assigned to the 1st, Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. “Trying to come and continue through the day when you have to run and ruck as hard as you have to… it’s more of a mental thing trying to overcome that.”
Three other 82nd Abn. Div. paratroopers are competing for a chance to represent the Division in the competition.
“We are all working towards the same goal,” said Chamales. “It’s a good opportunity for all of us.”
Working as a team and exercising the Army’s Warrior Ethos of never leaving a falling comrade inspires Paris to keep pushing harder.
"If my buddy looks weak, then I pick up,” said the young sergeant. “If I look weak, then he picks up. It’s a matter of taking care of each other.”
The camaraderie is evident as the paratroopers look left or right for assistance as needed.
“If someone doesn’t know something, there is someone more experienced who can teach him,” said Chamales.
Chamales said he likes to see Paratroopers try out for the competition and the opportunity to highlight the hard work that they do as very few will ever get to represent their Division in the Army’s Best Ranger Competition.
“It means a chance and an opportunity to do something legit and special for the Division and the Brigade,” he said.
For the remainder of the month, the paratroopers will continue to push their bodies to the breaking point. They will ruck and run long hours through the night. They will work together as as a team to help each other out. They’ll push themselves mercilessly to represent their units and the opportunity to bring home the prize pistols.
“It means a lot to go down and represent Falcon Brigade, I’m honored,” said Paris.
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.09.2015 17:29 |
| Story ID: | 156465 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 929 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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