Leaders compete in Thunder Crucible

Courtesy Photo | Capt. Alexander Mullin, a Kingwood, Texas, native and battery commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, and Sgt. Michael Maye, an Eatonville, Wash., native assigned to 580th Forward Support Company, 1th Battalion, 38th FA Regiment, 210th FA Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, display their commemorative knives after being recognized as the Thunder Crucible’s winning team May 29 at Carey Field on Camp Casey, South Korea. Both leaders were also awarded Army Commendation Medal by Col. Michael J. Lawson, the brigade commander.  

CAMP CASEY, SOUTH KOREA

05.28.2015

Courtesy Story

210th Field Artillery Brigade

CAMP CASEY, South Korea -- As part of the unit’s annual Thunder Crucible competition, company and battery-level officers and noncommissioned officers from the 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division gathered under the morning dimness of Carey Field May 27-28 on Camp Casey, South Korea.

The Thunder Crucible, which pairs officers and their unit NCO counterparts, is a two-day event aimed at testing the basic Soldiering knowledge of leaders.

“I created Thunder Crucible to push our young officers and NCOs in a two-day event focused on basic Soldier tasks so they can see, and achieve, a level of training and proficiency at basic tasks,” said Col. Michael J Lawson, brigade commander of 210th FA BDE, 2nd Inf. Div. “It allows them opportunity to really bond together as a team, work more effectively as a team and really test themselves mentally, physically and emotionally.”

A total of 12 challenges were designed to examine the teams’ various abilities, including physical skills such as the Army Physical Fitness Test, an obstacle and relay course and a 10-kilometer foot march. The competition also included testing on weapons assembly and disassembly, calling for fire and vehicle recovery.

Knowledge of Korean culture, the brigade’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program and the 2nd Infantry Division were also evaluated.

The competition not only challenges leaders to push themselves, it also demonstrates to Soldiers their officers and NCOs lead them from the front and are able to perform all tasks they require from troops, said Maj. Jeremy F. Linney, the brigade operations officer.

“Not only will the Soldiers know their leaders are proficient in basic army skills, but there also is some pride and morale that comes when Soldiers see their leaders succeed in a difficult competition like Thunder Crucible,” added Linney.

Winner of this year’s competition was the team of Capt. Alexander Mullin, battery commander of A Battery, and Sgt. Michael Maye, 580th Forward Support Company, both assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th FA Bde., 2nd Inf. Div.

As the Thunder Crucible’s top team, Mullin and Maye were awarded the Army Commendation Medal and presented with commemorative knives by Lawson.

Through the leader-driven competition, Linney expects officer and NCOs who competed to use their skills and knowledge to prepare troops for any challenges they may face.

“At the end of the day, both leaders and their Soldiers will realize that the Thunder Brigade’s ‘Fight Tonight’ is not just a motto or greeting of the day; it is a mindset,” said Linney. “It is what drives these Soldiers everyday and how they should prepare themselves every night.”

• Date Taken: 05.28.2015
• Date Posted: 06.03.2015 22:14
• Story ID: 165421
• Location: CAMP CASEY, KR