Photo By Maj. Sean Delpech | Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Gerner, service rifle instructor NCOIC for the Army Reserve...... read more read more
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FORT A.P. HILL, Va. – Mettle - “a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Army Reserve Soldiers from around the 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) entered the ultimate test during the 310th ESC 2015 Best Warrior Competition, held March 4-8 March, 2015, here.
The competition had some surprises for everyone as competitors were hit by extreme weather conditions and some welcome training from the USAR Marksmanship Team.
The competitors of the Best Warrior Competition encountered freezing weather conditions and a foot of snow, adding to the challenge for the Army Reserve Soldiers.
The 11 Soldiers and noncommissioned officers put the pedal to the mettle in events starting with Army Warrior Task Training, an Army Physical Fitness Test, and a couple of hours later, a 10K ruck march with a 45 pound loaded ruck sack on day one of the Best Warrior.
The winners of this Best Warrior Competition, Army Reserve Spc. Reno S. Johnson, a watercraft engineer from the 55th Sustainment Brigade, and Sgt. Richard M. Callis, a human resources specialist from the 373rd Quartermaster Battalion, 38th Regional Support Group, are slated to compete in the 377th Theater Sustainment Command Best Warrior Competition, later this year.
The key motivator behind this year’s 310th ESC Best Warrior Competition was the 310th ESC senior enlisted NCO, Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Hinton. For most of the events held, he was right there with his Soldiers.
“I always tell my Soldiers that I wouldn’t ask them to do something that I wouldn’t do,” explained Hinton, “It’s important for them to see senior leaders compete and complete the course.”
“Key to our Best Warrior was not only the projection of an NCO and Soldier to the 377th competition, but the delivery of world-class training that all of our Soldiers should take back to their units to enhance Soldier skills there,” said Hinton. “The end goal here is to give them world-class training.”
Day two of the Best Warrior Competition began with weapons training hosted by the USAR Marksmanship Team, the 9 mm weapons range in a downpour of sleet, snow and freezing temperatures, and ended with a challenging Army Combatives competition.
The competition ended with M4 weapons qualification and land navigation on day three and the honor of appearing in front of the sergeants major board on day four.
Army Reserve Capt. Ervin L. Marion, 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) G-3 operations officer and officer in charge of the 2014 Best Warrior Competition, said he believes that “the inclusion of the USAR Marksmanship Team makes all the difference.”
Many of the Soldiers competing during the four days of the Best Warrior had not fired a 9mm handgun before the competition.
“None of these Soldiers but two have previously fired an M9, said Army Reserve Maj. Luis Garcia, Mobile Training Team officer in charge with the Army Reserve Marksmanship Team. “With this opportunity, it allows us to expose some first time Soldiers to it, and reinforce marksmanship to those that have.”
“Best Warrior pushes Soldiers to take all different skill sets and exercise all the tools in their tool kit," continued Garcia. “It’s a change for them to go up against other Soldiers.”
Preparation to include the USAR Marksmanship Team in the 310th ESC 2015 Best Warrior Competition began months before the actual event.
“I wanted to differentiate our competition by adding large learning components rather than just projecting a winner to the 377th BWC,” said Hinton. “For example, including the U.S. Marksmanship team brought an unparalleled level of instruction for all of our Soldiers to take back to their units”.
“Since this was an ESC-wide event, it was the perfect platform to transfer knowledge across units,” said Hinton. “A key highlight of our training was bringing in the Marksmanship Team to deliver that world-class M9 and M16 training."
This meant that budgeting had to come from the 310th ESC.
“Cross organization lines of accounting were set up,” said Hinton, “and DTS was completed along with orders from the 310th ESC to the marksmanship team.”
Members of the Marksmanship Team were sought after by the event planners due to their exceptional weapons instruction and reputation of excellence in their craft.
“It’s great to have the Marksmanship Team here,” Marion said. “They show the Soldiers the tricks of the trade of working with their weapon systems.”
“The event this year went exceptionally well," Marion continued. “The Soldiers aren’t just competing during this Best Warrior, but learning their skill set and enhancing their basic Soldier skills.”
Preparation for the 2015 Best Warrior Competition began months before the actual event.
One of the most challenging events during the competition was the Army Combatives competition. During this year’s Best Warrior, the competitors were placed in a learning environment first.
This allowed instructors/graders such as Sgt. 1st Class Mark A. Paixao, of the 55th Sustainment Brigade, to reinforce how to fall, roll and review the basics of Army Combatives, as well as having the competitors demonstrate proper technique back to the instructors. Then the competition portion of the combatives event began.
“Combatives brings adaptability to the simulated combat environment,” said Paixao, “and adds team-building to the competition.”
“This year we’re adding instruction on how to properly fall and interact safely,” continued Paixao.
Another challenging event in the Best Warrior was the Army Warrior Task event. The Warrior Task event was run with competition taking place in a stressful and noisy environment where the Soldiers are required to react to multiple tasks at once during assessment.
The goal for the Army Warrior Task was also to offer world-class training for the Soldiers to “teachback” at the competitors’ units.
“The Warrior Tasks are something I don’t normally have the opportunity to do often at my unit,” said Army Reserve Spc. Reno S. Johnson, a watercraft engineer with the 55th Sustainment Brigade, and winner of the 310th ESC Best Warrior Competition. “Events like Best Warrior help me develop those skills to take back with me, said Johnson.”
The Soldiers competing for the event generally couldn’t use time during their full-time occupations to train, for the most part.
Most of the Soldiers competing in the Best Warrior sacrificed countless hours of personal time to physical fitness, Warrior Task proficiency training, and weapons training.
“I stay physically fit because I enjoy it,” said Staff Sgt. Keith J. Hoffman, a signal support systems specialist from the 55th Sustainment Brigade, "but it all parlays into mission readiness.”
The intent behind this year’s Best Warrior is Warrior Training as well as assessment. Competitors are expected to take their skills back to their units to mentor their fellow Soldiers.
“It’s up to us as junior NCOs," said Sgt. Lloyd A. Stone, a vehicle mechanic with the 275th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 55th Sustainment Brigade. “Things like physical training and combatives can motivate Soldiers in increasing their fitness level, so anything I can do to increase their fitness and morale, I’ll do.”
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2015 17:48 |
| Story ID: | 157007 |
| Location: | FORT A.P. HILL, VA, US |
| Hometown: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Hometown: | JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, US |
| Hometown: | SPANAWAY, WA, US |
| Hometown: | SUFFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
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