We fight together at EFES 16

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes | A Turksih soldier jumps over an barrier during a squad competition obstacle course, which was part of Exercise EFES 2016 May 25. EFES is Turkey's largest military exercise, which was held as a multinational event for the first time this year, including about 7,000 miltiary members from nine different countries.  

TURKEY

05.25.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Whitney Hughes 

114th Public Affairs Detachment

Every year U.S. Soldiers take part in competitions at their local, regional and national commands to test their mettle against their peers. It isn't often that they get the opportunity to compete against their counterparts from other nations.

However, at Exercise EFES 16, the commanders of the German and U.S. companies participating in the multinational exercise saw the opportunity and seized it. On May 25 Soldiers from Turkey, Germany, Poland, Azerbaijan, and the U.S. took part  in a squad competition to test their fitness and military skills.

"When you win something as a team it brings you closer together, but just by competing you become closer. If you are partners in a competition it will make you stronger partners later on, even if you don't win, you become closer with your teammates," said Sgt. Maj. Necati Akpinar, the operations Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Europe who helped organize and oversee the exercise.

The competition was not originally scheduled to be a part of EFES 16, which includes about 7,000 Soldiers from nine different countries. The exercise is focused on combat-related training between NATO allies and Partners.

However, the commanders of the U.S. and German companies came up with the idea to have the competition between their two countries, an idea that was so well received that the Turkish, Polish and Azerbaijani commanders decided to send teams to compete as well. The competition consisted of an obstacle course, a road march wearing 44-pound packs, a litter carry, a marksmanship course, and a pull-up competition. 

In addition to the teams that competed to represent their own countries there were also two teams that combined German and U.S. Soldiers. 

"It was my opinion that we should mix up the team," said German Army Master Sgt. Mike J. (who asked not to be fully identified according to policy), of the 2nd Company 31st Airborne Battalion, who was the team leader for one of the U.S.-German teams. "It was motivating because we did it all together." His team's cohesion was unmistakable when his cadence call was answered throughout the competition.  His call; "We fight," his team's reply; "Together!"

The Azerbaijani team took first place followed by the Polish team in second and the U.S. in third. Even though the competition is over, EFES 16 is is still in full swing, and the high-fives, handshakes and bear hugs were a sure sign that the teammates became battle buddies.

"The first few days, it usually takes some time to come together. I have many soldiers that have never worked with Americans before, and now it will be easier to work together," said Mike J. 

• Date Taken: 05.25.2016
• Date Posted: 05.26.2016 19:40
• Story ID: 199216
• Location: TR