Courtesy Photo | Two young gentlemen explore the Humvee replica soapbox car June 6, following the Narva...... read more read more
NARVA, Estonia – For the past several weeks, if one took a walk around Tapa Army Base, Soldiers with Team Estonia could be seen tinkering and perfecting; putting their hard work, dedication and creativity to the test, in a different way.
Today however, was June 6, the day of the Narva City soapbox derby and would reveal the fruits of their labor.
“This was the seventh time the Embassy has worked with the City of Narva to sponsor the race,” said Bradley Hurst, public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia. “It’s a fun event where teams from all over Estonia, especially from the north east and Narva build soap box cars and race them down a hill as part of celebrating Narva City days.”
The race took place during Operation Atlantic Resolve, an on-going series of training exercises designed to build relationships, trust and interoperability between the United States and its NATO allies.
Team Estonia is comprised of Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, of Ft. Stewart, Georgia and 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, of Grafenwohr Army Base, Germany.
Despite a hectic schedule of tactical training procedures and live-fire exercises, designated teams from each platoon, still found time to refine their creations.
“We found out about this, about a month and a half ago and as a mechanic I got really excited,” said Staff Sgt. Jason Elliot, of Covina, California, maintenance team chief with Dark Troop 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. “I was able to fabricate and build my own car from the ground up, so it was really cool.”
As the crowd gathered in anticipation for the race, participants met with judges for their number and a test run down the hill.
“I think it’s an opportunity for Soldiers to leave the base of Tapa and take part in a community event in another setting, especially here in Narva and the north east where the feelings about the U.S. Soldiers are a little bit more mixed given the political situation,” said Hurst. “Being able to have them interact with people in the community is important in order to show what the American presence here in Estonia actually means.”
The race began and each team took their turn down the hill. Among roadster and bubble cars, Red platoon’s creation, a tribute to the Jamaican bob sled team Cool Running’s, white platoon’s leaning wheel barrel, maintenance platoon’s Humvee and tank platoon’s old school car, were all a sight to see and the ride - a little more intense than expected.
“It was scary. I was screaming the whole way down,” said Pfc. Michael T. Goff, a driver with Anvil Troop 1/91 CAV. “I think the crowd enjoyed it and I liked it a lot too.”
After the race, the participants and crowd met at the bottom of the hill to meet and greet the racers and their cars.
For Goff, this experience was a chance to not only support the Estonian military, but to also build long lasting relationships with the community too.
“By having Soldiers participate in the community, it shows that they are accessible and share things in common with people who are living here,” said Hurst.
Although Team Estonia didn’t get the winning prize, each platoon received a plaque to commemorate their participation, Elliot stated he hoped that the Estonian people as well as the Russians that are across the border see that “we are here as peacekeepers,”
“There is nothing maniacal about us being here. [We are just] training and partnering with the Estonian people,” he added.
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2015 05:46 |
| Story ID: | 165771 |
| Location: | NARVA, EE |
| Hometown: | COVINA, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 160 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Team Estonia participates in Narva Soapbox Derby, by SGT Juana Nesbitt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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