3rd BCT paratroopers give it their all during physical training competition

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Hewitt | Paratroopers assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division evacuate a notional casualty during a physical training competition at Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 2, 2015. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Anthony Hewitt/Released)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

09.06.2015

Story by Sgt. Anthony Hewitt 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Paratroopers assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conducted a team training competition in the morning hours of Sept. 2 at Fort Bragg.

The cavalry scouts of 3rd BCT are taking the initiative to stay sharp and focused as their forward unit continues its building partner capacity and advise and assist mission with the Iraqi Security Forces in Iraq.

Second Lt. Benjamin Robinson, assistant planner of training for 5th Sqd, 73rd Cav. Regt., said he combined physical training, skill level one tasks and occupation-specific tasks to create a healthy and educational competition.

Each troop planned different stations of reconnaissance tasks that were supervised by the noncommissioned officers, said Robinson.

Stations included providing medical care while under fire, land navigation, assemble communications equipment and report, along with identifying target objects with binoculars.

The noncommissioned officers added stress to the paratroopers’ tasks by incorporating physical training within the task and between stations.

"The objective was to test the Soldiers' knowledge and actions, ensuring that these paratroopers know what to do in strenuous situations," said Sgt. Jacob Thompson, a paratrooper assigned to Bravo Troop, 5th Sqd., 73rd Cav. Regt.

As the sun rose, sweat drenched the paratrooper's uniforms and grassy dirt was stuck to the competitor’s hands and faces; each team continued without hesitation to execute their technical and physical duties.

"Teamwork is extremely important, if one person fails the whole thing could go wrong," said Pfc. Hunter Gerlitzky, a Paratrooper assigned to Alpha Troop, 5th Sqd., 73rd Cav. Regt. "I tried my hardest and gave everything I could."

• Date Taken: 09.06.2015
• Date Posted: 09.06.2015 08:57
• Story ID: 175360
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US