Photo By John Freese | Specialist (promotable) Robert Torres of the 220th Public Affairs Detachment,...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT KNOX, Ky. – One Soldier and two Non-commissioned Officers from units of the 88th Readiness Division joined 58 other Soldiers and NCOs from eight commands at the Combined Best Warrior Competition held at Fort Knox, April 8-12, 2019. The large, multi-faceted event was planned and hosted by the 84th Training Command's dedicated team of NCOs, led by Sgt. Maj. Dusty Alexander.
88th RD Soldier competitors were Staff Sgt. Jill Spencer, Sgt. Adam Parent, and Spec. (promotable) Robert Torres.
The 84th set a robust list of events that, according to the published order, tested knowledge in 32 different subject areas, ranging from Army warrior tasks, to current events, and to equipment maintenance. The events themselves included some challenging twists, such as a helicopter repel. Also interesting among variants from the typical BWC was a field version of the Sergeants Major Board, presented from tents as a surprise to competitors while on the range for the land navigation event.
Torres serves at the 220th Public Affairs detachment, Southfield, Mich. His unit returned from a deployment to Kuwait only a month ago. The field board was a challenge on which he had hoped to do better.
“I guess I'm not one to be put under the gun like that and not know what was coming at me,” Torres said. “It was probably my worst event.”
For many competitors, the board is the most stress-inducing event of the competition. Questions that might otherwise seem routine can trip up a Soldier when having to stand before a panel of seasoned and sometimes intimidating senior NCOs and Sergeants Major. Under the surprise conditions and, by that time, a pretty good dose of sleep deprivation, it's not hard to see why.
“I was asked what 'ASAP' was, and I just couldn't think of it; I went brain dead,” said Torres, referring to an acronym commonly known to most Soldiers for the Army's program to address alcohol and substance abuse in its formations. Upon exiting the tent, he suddenly remembered it. “Army Substance Abuse Program. Why couldn't I remember that then!?” he exclaimed.
Parent took notice in the questions of a focus that went beyond the details of regulations or policies. Indeed, as billed, Soldiers were tested on their ability to keep up on current news of national interest. For instance, there was a question about the recent arrest of infamous hacker Julian Assange by British authorities – something that had happened just a day or two prior. Parent found that refreshing, and he noted something else.
“They were focused more on the underlying concepts of 'what does it mean to be a leader?' or … 'how would you handle a given situation,'” Parent said.
In such a wide range of competition events, each Soldier faced at least one tough challenge. Spencer is a human resources NCO with the 88th RD Headquarters and Headquarters Company, at Fort McCoy, Wis. She found her toughest time in the road march event; a 10-mile route across terrain with several large hills.
“It was no joke,” Spencer said, of the steep grades. “On one of them, you're going up almost sideways, and you're going down sideways because it's so steep,” she said.
Add to those hills the weight of Spencer's pack – 9 pounds over the minimum of 35 – and it wasn't long before she felt the toll on her already tired legs. And this was just one event in a list of nearly 20 separate events that spanned four solid days of competition. At 45 years old, and as the mother of five children, Spencer was the oldest competitor in the event by several years. She was able to complete 75 percent of the march and achieve her minimum goal, but she had wanted to do more.
“Misery, agony, and heartbreak,” Spencer said. Despite that many of the competitors were half her age, she felt youth to be somewhat irrelevant.
“It didn't matter if you were 19 or 45, you could still see everybody struggling through different parts of that entire competition. Whether it's the [physical fitness] test, rifle qualification or obstacle course... it's tough regardless,” she said.
Certainly among the more stimulating events for competitors, support staff and observers alike was a series of potentially nerve-racking rappels. In harnesses fashioned from rope, called Swiss saddles, competitors arrived on site as usual, during the dark parts of the morning, where they were coached on safety, technique and proper repel communication. They were allowed to try first from a small warm-up wall of about a dozen feet. Then as the sun rose, they ascended in groups a tower five times as high, which jiggled under their steps up the several flights.
The hardest part may have come with the wait, and when one first occupying the low seated “L” position, Spencer agreed, referring to the portion where competitors queued up on the tower deck as others descended. They finally made their approach and hook-up, then turned around to hang their back sides over the ledge.
From that point, a given competitor looked over her shoulder, saw for the first time that 60-foot height in total, steadied the shake in her voice and gave a sharp shout of “on repel!” then paused.
“On belay!” came the retort from a fellow competitor rotating turns on the rope below. Then began what amounted to a backward, six-story rope-slide in three controlled (or not so controlled in some cases) bounds to the ground below. It was followed by a semi-rushed backpedal to clear rope from harness in preparation for the next competitor's descent, and an occasional “hooah!” Competitors then went right back up and performed additional repels from the tower, but hanging free this time, without support of a wall.
The event crescendo, however, was an exciting 60-foot repel from a pair of hovering Black Hawk helicopters, compliments of the 8-229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, also located at Fort Knox under Army Reserve Air Command.
Throughout the entire series of repels, the 84th TC event cadre were attentive to safety, procedure and an efficient pace.
“I trusted those running it and trusted my gear,” said Torres of the repel event. “And [I] got to experience something I never got to do before.”
Of the three 88th RD competitors, two will continue on to compete at the U.S. Army Reserve Command event at Fort Bragg in late June. Spencer was selected as NCO of the Year by the 88th, and Torres was selected Soldier of the Year. They both look forward to competing again one level higher against a field of competitors assembled from throughout the Army Reserve field.
But Parent, who wasn't selected, indicated anything but regret for his effort. Like Torres, he is a Public Affairs Soldier who had just returned from a deployment to Kuwait. The two of them were in the final days of demobilization at Fort Hood when they were asked by their leadership to compete. That meant the minute they walked through the door at home, they began completing paperwork, making study plans, and intensifying their physical training for another mission; and they had about 30 days to do it.
Army Reserve units are busy organizations that meet a large list of yearly objectives on behalf of the nation's defense. Similarly, the Soldiers who serve in them have multiple things to which they must attend, civilian careers and schools, family and business concerns, as well as their commitment to military service and its own set of educational and career requirements.
Whether it's two young Soldiers returning from an overseas deployment, or a more mature one who is mother to five, the truth is, competitors for Best Warrior seldom get as much time to prepare as they would like. Parent summed up well why Soldiers facing these challenges bother to compete.
“It allows young Soldiers and junior NCOs to really push themselves beyond normal limits,” he said.
“At the end of the day you'll see some really great people rise to the top, and it's good to see them get recognized for all the effort they put in working and studying.”
| Date Taken: | 04.18.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2019 16:17 |
| Story ID: | 318841 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers from the 88th Compete in Combined Best Warrior Competition, by John Freese, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT