Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Felix Fimbres | Drill Sergeant Sgt. 1st Class Adam Derrick, 2nd of the 397th, ensures proper pushup...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - When it comes to knowing, maintaining and enforcing the Army standards, drill sergeants are the experts. When the Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition organizers wanted fair, strict, and knowledgeable graders for its event they knew exactly where to turn - the drill sergeants of the 2nd battalion of 397th Regiment from Lexington, Ky.
“My drill sergeants knowledge of the day-to-day use of warrior tasks and battle drills is paramount,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Sunley of the 2nd Battalion of the 397th Regiment. “They also ensure everyone is not only trained the same but graded the same.”
The drill sergeants are not only here for the duration of the competition, but they also arrived a week early to prepare for the events the competitors will have to complete. The competition is a two-day marathon of back-to-back events with little down time and even less sleep. The drill sergeants are alongside them every step of the way, literally.
During the foot March event, Staff Sgt. Daniel Saylor, a drill sergeant and veteran of two deployments while serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, kept track of each competitor on the 10-kilometer foot march on Fort Bragg.
“I like training Soldiers. I like throwing weight on my back and going for a walk,” said Saylor.
The competitors, for their part, have stepped up their game because they knew the drill sergeants would be making sure competitors were staying sharp.
“I first heard that drill sergeants run the events at Best Warrior while I was competing at my division Best Warrior Competition months ago,” said Pfc. Issac Alfaro, 158th Aviation Regiment. “I pushed myself harder because of it for sure. I knew drill sergeants hold a high standard that you have to meet.”
The drill sergeants of the 2nd Battalion of the 397th Regiment will continue to hold the best warrior competitors here to a high standard until two are selected to represent the Army Reserve at the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition later this year at Fort Lee, Va.
The drill sergeants are enjoying not only the competition but also challenging the competitors and helping them exceed the standard.
“It’s been neat seeing the best of the best from across the nation here at the same time,” said Staff Sgt. Cecil Williams, 2nd Battalion of the 397th Regiment, “I was very impressed with the first fellow who came in on his 2-mile run in around 11 minutes. That was extraordinary. They have all performed well.”
While the competitors will move on to the next level the drill sergeants will return home to friends and family. They will stand ready and prepared for their next mission – weather it be turning civilians into Soldiers or ensuring the best of best maintain the Army standard.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2015 23:25 |
| Story ID: | 162371 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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