Paralegal Warrior Challenge comes to Fort Drum

Photo By Sgt. Thomas Scaggs | Spc. Charles Ayers, a paralegal specialist with 91st Military Police Battalion, stands at attention during an oral board at Fort Drum, New York, on November 9. Ayers was competing in the Paralegal Warrior Challenge and later went on to win for junior enlisted. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thomas Scaggs)  

FORT DRUM, NY, UNITED STATES

11.09.2016

Story by Spc. Thomas Scaggs 

10th Combat Aviation Brigade

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers from across the 10th Mountain Division (LI) competed in a variety of events testing their physical and mental strength in the Paralegal Warrior Challenge, which wrapped up Thursday at Fort Drum.

"Many Soldiers think that being a paralegal is a cushy job that doesn't include physical training. This is not the case," said Spc. David A. McDonald, a paralegal specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade. "We have to do more PT, because we work on computers all day. We have to keep ourselves in check or else we will fall victim to the very administrative separations that we process."

The competition's history spans 15 years across multiple installations, but this was the first time it had been held at Fort Drum.

Sgt. Maj. Cyrus Netter, command paralegal NCO with the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate here, said he felt that carrying on the tradition is important for Soldiers' development.

"This develops Soldiers' confidence level. It helps Soldiers begin to see their full potential," Netter said. "Most Soldiers are a little reluctant to (participate) in a competition like this, especially one that has multiple events that challenge the Soldier, because it makes them feel like they may not be able to do one or two things. What I've seen, from these Soldiers that do challenge themselves, is it puts a drive in them that they want to do it.

"Once they've completed it, they realize that they can do things that they didn't think they'd do so well at, and they overcome their fears," he continued.

Events are designed to be fast-paced and diverse, challenging Soldiers to demonstrate their physical, soldiering and paralegal skills.

Before the sun rose on Nov. 8, competitors were already doing pushups and situps and running two miles as part of the Army Physical Fitness Test.

With only a short time allotted to shower and eat, they were back outside in their field gear for testing on warrior tasks. Stations for skills such as first aid, map reading, searching a detainee and more were graded by NCOs. Later that afternoon, Soldiers completed a weapons qualification.

The following day began with a rainy ruck march before dawn. Participants dried off in time for a written test on their paralegal knowledge.

After lunch, they returned in their dress uniforms for an oral board judged by a panel of paralegals from throughout 10th Mountain Division (LI).

With scores tallied, winners were announced Thursday.

Sgt. Luis Vazquez-Ocasio, a paralegal NCO with 91st Military Police Battalion, took first for NCOs.

Spc. Charles Ayers, a paralegal specialist with 1st Brigade Combat Team, took the top spot for the junior enlisted.

Netter said he credits the division's commanders with the competition's success. By lending resources and allowing Soldiers to take part, he said they help their Soldiers reach their true potential and encourage other leaders to see the value in competition.

"I would urge other leaders to develop competition for Soldiers because Soldiers want to compete," Netter said. "Soldiers want something to set them apart from their peers. It doesn't matter what your specialty is, if leaders can develop a competition that challenges Soldiers, it will increase our competency level across the board, and it will also increase the effectiveness and quality of Soldiers we have in our ranks. When Soldiers see that they have an opportunity to excel and their leaders care about them as individuals, they tend to give 100 percent."

• Date Taken: 11.09.2016
• Date Posted: 05.09.2017 10:39
• Story ID: 233139
• Location: FORT DRUM, NY, US