BANGOR, Maine - Eleven squads from the Maine Army National Guard competed in a best squad competition at the Bangor Armed Forces Reserve Center Sept. 12, 2015.
The competition tested soldiers’ mental and physical warrior abilities with an emphasis on teamwork and unit cohesion using a 14-station, round robin style event. The stations included weapons skills, physical fitness, first aid, communications and land navigation skills.
The final event was a rigorous six-mile tactical road march that took place Saturday night proceeding the round robin stations.
“You can train any time, but it’s cool to bring it into a competition aspect,” said Spc. Jeffrey Shock, a combat engineer with the 251st Engineer Company (Sappers), “It makes you want to be on top of your game.”
The squads represented several units from MEARNG such as The 251st Engineer Company, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 1136th Transportation Company and the 488th Military Police Company.
The warrior tasks and scenarios selected were designed to provide a challenge for all participants through the diversity of skill sets that were evaluated. All of the stations were scored at equal value and equal weight throughout the competition.
Sgt. Maj. John Brooks, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the best squad competition said, “While there may be advantages throughout the course for some squads we tried to pick events that are fair for the entire organization.”
This year’s best squad competition is at a different venue than last year allowing for the use of live ammo and a non-traditional Army Physical Fitness Test. Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Doyon, the state command sergeant major and Brooks determined the events for the competition.
“We looked at the warrior tasks; shoot, move, communicate to win our nations wars and we thought these 14 tasks were the most common to all Soldiers and they could support our mission,” said Brooks.
Spc. Shock felt the competition had a little bit of everything for everybody.
“We’ll struggle in a couple things, other people will struggle in a couple things, so I think it’s really well rounded this year,” said Shock.
Members from other units agreed with diversity skills represented in this year’s competition.
“It’s definitely opened our eyes to a couple of our weak spots,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Weymouth an Infantryman with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), “We can take that back to the company and suggest future training ideas company wide.”
“It’s been a great experience,” said Weymouth, “It’s good to work with different faces and get to know the rest of the unit.”
Some squads knew who the members of their squad were months in advance and were able to prepare for the event.
Shock said they’d known for about a year who was in their squad and they spent the previous drill weekend practicing. Others found out last minute and hope to train better next year.
The event was almost scrapped due to budget constraints. Brooks emphasized how budget cuts shouldn’t infringe on training soldiers.
“I felt that this is an excellent event for each unit to come out here and compete against each other to get to know each other, and for esprit de corps for the Maine Army National Guard,” said Brooks, “As a Senior NCO I never want financial constraints to get in the way of putting the best soldier on the battlefield.”
This year the best squad for the state was the 488th Military Police Company, located in Waterville.
Sgt. Travis Smith, the squad leader of the 488th Military Police Company said, “It’s an amazing feeling being with a group of soldiers in a competition and finding out what your made of.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2015 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 175910 |
| Location: | BANGOR, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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