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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - On a dark, crisp Monday morning, more than 40 Soldiers from the 18th Field Artillery Brigade formed up on the U.S. Army Forces Command field to initiate the Best of the Best competition on March 7.
The Best of the Best competition began with an Army Physical Fitness Test, evaluating each of the competitors in pushups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run. Later that day, the Soldiers took an MOS-specific written test. The following four days tested the Soldiers’ physical and mental strength and endurance while evaluating their job skills and field craft.
“The competition is designed to test our Soldiers' execution of [High Mobility Artillery Rocket System] crew drills and sustainment crew drills such as missile reloading and basic Warrior tasks,” said Master Sgt. James Gray, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the event. “The competition is also a leadership development and team building event. Our Firing units and Sustainment teams performed tasks that they would execute in a combat situation.”
The competition challenged the Soldiers with two days of crew drills where cadre members gauged the competitors’ abilities to load and unload ammunition pods, provide resupply, and execute HIMARS firing tasks in an efficient and timely manner. Thursday was spent at the rifle range with the Soldiers qualifying with the M4 carbine and then disassembling and reassembling crew served weapons, including the M240B, the M2 and the MK19.
The last day of the competition had all the competitors gathering in the Friday morning darkness in preparation for a 20-kilometer foot march. Once the last of the Soldiers crossed the finish line, they returned to the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment motor pool and winners of the competition were recognized and awarded.
Sgt. Bryan Erwin and Pfc. Brandon Varela, of the 188th Brigade Support Battalion, were selected as the winners from the Forward Support Company Distro Teams that competed in the competition.
“We provide support to the 188th and to 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment,” said Erwin. “This involved land navigation out to a predetermined location and downloading ammunition pods in a timely manner and then upload pods as if they were already shot.”
The forward support companies of the 188th BSB are tasked with ensuring the 3rd Battalion, 321st Field Artillery Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment remain supplied while in the field, including ammunition pods for the HIMARS crews.
“The ruck march was pretty challenging, but overall we were very prepared for all the events,” said Varela. “I give all the credit to Sgt. Erwin for preparing us. He went past the guideline to make sure we were ready for whatever came out. In the past month we got to go to the rifle range a few times and accurately zero our weapons and qualify both times so we were prepared for the rifle qualification event.”
“Our leaders provided the information to make sure the Soldiers were informed,” said Erwin. “We learned a lot with the crew drills and the fastest way to perform our duties so we are definitely going to take that back to our teammates and help them out as well.”
Staff Sgt. Cody Lindholm, Spc. Evan Dougherty and Pfc. Scott Westfall, of the 3-27 FAR, were recognized as the winners of the HIMARS teams that contended in the competition.
“The Best of the Best was pretty balanced as far as general Soldier skills and MOS proficiency,” said Lindholm. “It was challenging and rewarding for sure. Nothing about the ruck march was easy but it helps motivate people since we had to finish as a group.”
“Our HIMARS drills on Wednesday were pretty well organized and was really quick,” added Lindholm. “It was one of the better certification crew drills I’ve done. We did pretty excellent and it was one of our top spots for the competition.”
“Even for the people who didn’t win, they’re leaving here with something better than when they came into the competition.” continued Lindholm.
“The ruck march was pretty significant because we had to do it as a team,” said Dougherty. “We had to push and motivate each other the whole time. I feel better coming out of this competition, especially with the crew-served weapons. It’s not every day you get to spend a whole day or two tearing the weapons apart and putting them back together.
“It was good training and we will be showing other people down the line everything we learned,” added Dougherty.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2016 11:01 |
| Story ID: | 193262 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 18th FA Brigade holds first Best of the Best competition, by SSG Benjamin Parsons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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