Photo By 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden | Staff Sgt. Steven Russell, a supply sergeant with Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd...... read more read more
By Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden
It’s four a.m. on a cool, crisp Central Iowa Saturday. A sliver of moonlight scarcely casts a perceptible glow across the training area of the Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center.
The temperature barely reaches 25 degrees, and yet two Soldiers pore over a training site map, calculating their next set of grid coordinates within the land navigation course. Flashlights in hand, they briskly move out, establishing individual pace counts.
For these two Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers – Staff Sgt. Steven Russell, a supply sergeant with Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, and 1st Lt. Thomas Bentley, the executive officer for the 832nd Engineer Company, 224th Engineer Battalion – this four a.m. training session embodies the opportunity of a lifetime.
In less than a week, Iowa’s dynamic duo will represent the Iowa National Guard in the 10th annual U.S. Army Best Sapper Competition, held at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. in late April. A total of 50, two-person teams representing the Total Force – including 46 active duty Army teams, three U.S. Army Reserve teams and one National Guard team – will compete in this grueling 50-mile, 50-hour competition.
U.S. Army Sappers perform a wide variety of combat engineer tasks, ranging from bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defenses as well as building, road and airfield construction and repair. The term “sapeur” can be traced back in the French Army into the mid to late 17th century, where it referred to an engineer who dug trenches and built field fortifications.
The Best Sapper Competition began in 2005 as a challenging three-day ordeal which tests each competitor’s knowledge, physical prowess and mental fortitude. Besides a run, ruck march, day and night land navigation and weapons qualification, contestants will also complete technical Sapper events such as Breach a Target Using the Tactical Torch Cutting System, Construct Field Expedient Antennas, or Disable a Bridge with Explosives.
As if being an engineer doesn’t have enough of its own unique set of challenges, being the sole Sapper representatives for the entire National Guard elevates those challenges to an even higher echelon.
Both Soldiers, who’ve been training since February, spent their last drill weekend before the competition in typical Sapper fashion – besides a light workout and run, they conducted rappelling operations, early-morning land navigation and conducted personnel searches. And of course, they continued to find time for incessant scrutiny of Sapper proficiencies.
As Bentley put it, “We’re merely honing our mental edge and keeping ourselves sharp.
“While it’s great to represent the state of Iowa and the National Guard, I’m excited, because it’s also a great opportunity to set a precedent for the National Guard,” said Bentley, a graduate student at Michigan State University.
Russell said he’s equally stoked to not only represent, but to contend amongst the Sapper elite.
“It’s great to be part of a competition with the best Sappers in the U.S. Army and in the world,” said Russell. “The Sapper craft will be second to none and it’s just an honor to be able to step onto the field and compete at this level.”
This isn’t the first time these Iowa Engineers have paired up. Bentley served as a mentor to Russell when he first earned his Sapper tab.
Individually, they have a vast wealth of knowledge and ability, but together, they’re as tactically and technically sound as any member of this extensive brotherhood of combat engineers.
“Russell brings in lots of motivation and determination,” said Bentley. “He has lots of strengths, he propels us and keeps us moving. It’s inspiring to have a good partner like this.”
According to Russell, “The LT has an exceptional tactical background. His precision and attention to detail is the key to keeping us on point. He’s a team player and a huge ‘not me’ guy, but rather a ‘we’ guy.
“He keeps me grounded. He knows when to let me go full steam ahead, knows when to rein me back, knows what makes me tick, and which buttons to push when needed.”
Bentley, who celebrates six years of service in the Iowa National Guard in May, is currently serving as a research assistant with Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan research network. Afrobarometer conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues in more than 35 countries in Africa.
After graduating from Lakeside High School in Evans, Ga., Bentley earned a Political Science degree from the University of Iowa (2013). He’s now earning his doctorate degree at Michigan State University, where he’s majoring in Political Science and specializing in civil war and rebel tactics.
Attending Michigan State provided “a great opportunity to continue my education and to advance my military and civilian career,” said Bentley. “They offer a unique opportunity to advanced students in international relations and Political Science.
“It’s just a unique opportunity to remain at drill and financially succeed,” Bentley said.
His military career continues a family legacy – both his father and grandfather served and retired from the National Guard.
“Being an engineer officer offers a unique balance between Infantry and combat arms, My dad was an engineer and they’re just so diverse in their skillcraft and background. They’re like the ‘Gerber’ of the Army. It’s great to be part of such an historic regiment,” he said.
Russell, who’s served nine years as a full-time Active, Guard and Reserve Soldier hopes to become a sergeant major and continue his selfless service in the Iowa National Guard. He said he wants to help the “Red Bulls” become the number one combat infantry brigade in the nation and to continue their record of dominance.
After graduating from Palm Springs High School (California) in 1999, Russell eventually met his wife in Arizona. She was planning on moving back to Moville, Iowa and wanted him to come back with her.
“And here I am. It’s my best decision ever,” laughs Russell.
“The Army was always something I wanted to do and it definitely fits my personality. My wife wouldn’t agree to active duty, but she was ok with the National Guard. We found out about the AGR program and realized we could stay in Iowa. It was a no brainer,” he said.
As for becoming a combat engineer Russell felt the need to serve in combat arms, yet wanted to serve in a unit that delivered a diverse spectrum of operations.
“I wanted to help on the battlefield and I wanted to join a group of guys that hit hard. I read about combat engineers and about Paul Smith, a Medal of Honor recipient, and that sealed the deal for me. This was all right up my alley,” Russell said.
Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, a Tampa, Fla. native and a Soldier with Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, was killed in action near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on April 4, 2003. While mortally wounded, he helped defeat an enemy attack, resulting in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of wounded American Soldiers.
Known for his intensity, Russell deployed to Afghanistan in 2010-11 with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Combat Brigade Team. Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard. He graduated from Sapper school in September 2014.
Russell currently resides in Cedar Rapids with his wife, Stacey, and their two daughters, Sadie and Stella.
(Editor’s note – After making the cut following the first five events, the Iowa Army National Guard team of 1st Lt. Thomas Bentley and Staff Sgt. Steven Russell had to withdraw from the Best Sapper competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Bentley, who suffered an ankle injury, attempted to “gut out” the challenge, but after completing a 20-mile round-robin rucksack march with weights ranging from 85 to 125 pounds, the amount weight and the number of miles proved to be just too much. The team placed 37th out of 50 teams in the 10th annual event.
Both Soldiers have pledged to return to represent the Iowa National Guard in next year’s competition. )
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| Date Taken: | 05.25.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2016 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 199042 |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, US |
| Hometown: | EAST LANSING, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 262 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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