Photo By Sgt. Aura Conejos | Two, six-men teams with 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, compete in the Staff...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT BLISS, Texas - The Soldiers gather, smiles of uncertainty on their faces as the morning chill hits their faces; adjusting their rucksacks, awaiting further instruction.
Their first ride of many lands on the parade field of the 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
The second-annual Staff Sgt. Joshua Mills Commando Competition began the morning of Nov. 18 as 24 competitors boarded two CH-47 Chinook helicopters for two days of mentally and physically challenging obstacles.
Four, six-man teams were comprised from 1st AD: The Combat Aviation Brigade, Division Artillery, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, to compete in remembrance of Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills.
Mills, a native of El Paso and Green Beret, lost his life when his team was ambushed with an improvised explosive device on the evening of Sept. 15, 2009, while deployed to Afghanistan. His parents and the Fort Bliss Special Operations Recruiting Battalion organized the competition to keep his spirit alive and share the trials our troops continuously endure.
Tommy and Celeste Mills, Joshua’s parents, said being involved in the competition allows them the capability to carry on with the loss of their son.
“It gives us encouragement, to know that every day within our country there are still young men and women that will go do what it takes to accomplish the mission,” said Tommy. “No matter how hard or strenuous it is, or how long it may take, they will continue to get the job done.”
“It’s an honor to be a part of this, and we are glad the Army and the military doesn’t forget and I pray that America never forgets,” Celeste added.
First Lt. Christian Groom, Scout Platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 2/1, said seeing Mills’ parents immediately as the event began allowed the team to connect with what they were about to endure.
“I think a lot of us didn’t have an attachment to the event until we saw them,” Groom added. “It was an honor.”
When it seemed his will was faulting, he and the team took a step back and remembered the sacrifice Mills made in 2009.
The competitors first landed at the Tactical Ranch and ran through a 3.3 mile course of various lanes: An obstacle course, stress shoots, weapon assembly, ammunition carries, Humvee pushing and a mud pit.
They were then transported to an undisclosed location and instructed to ruck 11 miles into the morning hours and surprised with a timed written test upon arriving back on post.
The last obstacle included a round robin of upper-body stations and sprinting.
The team had to improvise and implement war game tactic, Groom said, with the multiple dimensions of this competition
The team found the uncertainty as the most challenging aspect, but were able to observe other competitors’ strengths and weaknesses during events to build their approach, Groom added.
The team representing 3/1 took the trophy back to their brigade to display proudly for the next year; second place went to 2/1 and third place to DIVARTY.
The grit and perseverance of the competitors was noticed and appreciated by the Mills family.
“This year was a step even further up the ladder,” Tommy concluded. “If you continue to get better and better, you make it harder for yourself but knowing these guys, it’s what they live for. If the challenge isn’t hard enough, they’re going to make it that much harder to show they can do what it takes.”
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2015 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 184274 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘Never too hard a task’ for a hero, by SGT Aura Conejos, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT