Photo By Brian Barbour | (From left to right) Staff Sgt. Daniel Hewett, a Leesville, La. native, Staff Sgt....... read more read more
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Hard work, determination, and a sense of relief was seen on the faces of Soldiers as they crossed the finish line at the end of the 5-mile road march, the first of seven events during the 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Sustainer Challenge, held March 18-19.
The four battalion teams from the 10th Sustainment Brigade, from Fort Drum, N.Y., performed at the top of their games, and when it was all said and done, all ranked in the top six out of 23 teams participating from around Iraq.
The brigade's 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion based at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, took first place overall, while Drum's own 10th Sustainment Brigade Troops Battalion based at Camp Taji earned second place.
The brigade's 553rd CSSB also based at Camp Liberty, placed fourth, and the 419th CSSB, based at Camp Taji, placed sixth.
The brigade commander, Col. Mark E. Drake, a native of St. Paul, Minn., and the brigade command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Allen G. Fritzsching, a Houston native, were on-hand along with the commanders and command sergeants major of the battalions to witness this great moment.
"What a tremendous success the Muleskinners had placing first, second, fourth, and sixth, and having the all-around female high-performer," said Col. Drake. "The teams were well-coached, trained, motivated and performed superbly. Each Soldier gave everything they had to each event ... it was an incredible feeling to witness and be around the high energy levels of our Soldiers. I know that every Muleskinner who participated learned a little more about themselves and what it truly means to be part of a team."
"Each Soldier worked as a member of the team all pulling together for each other and their units towards a common goal-to be the best! It was their dedication to each other, selfless service, team work and esprit-de-corps that made them successful. They embody the Warrior Ethos," said Command Sgt. Maj. Fritzsching.
The two-day competition began with a 5-mile road march, conducted at 0500, and would be the start of 2 days of competition that would test all the Soldiers' mental and physical abilities.
Immediately following was weapons qualification and knowledge, and the Humvee tire change, a timed event that challenged teams to change a humvee tire with speed and accuracy. The 500 meter litter-carry, with medical tasks, such as perform first aid for bleeding of extremities, open chest and abdominal wound, a suspected fracture and shock, was a timed event that kicked off the afternoon.
And if that was not enough to get them motivated, the last event of the day was the Army physical fitness test. The fitness test is how many push-ups and sit-ups can a Soldier do in two minutes, and then a timed 2-mile run. Soldiers performed this event in their uniform and running shoes, and at the end of day one all were tired and pumped for day two.
On day two, teams went head-to-head in an event everyone was looking forward to, level one combatives. Combatives competition is hand-to-hand combat, mixed with grappling and submission techniques, and was the perfect event to end the Sustainer Challenge. By the end of day two, Headquarters and Headquarters, 398th CSSB's and Woodbridge, Va. native, Master Sgt. Steven Russell, said "in my eyes, my team has done an outstanding job, giving 110 percent throughout the entire competition, and I am proud to be their coach".
Individual awards were also given out to the top male and female Soldiers of the competition, with the 10th SBDE's Capt. Sara Zerr, a brigade support operations officer and Junction City, Kan. native, winning as the top female Soldier for the Sustainer Challenge.
Zerr said, "The training definitely helped my overall physical condition and strength. But more than the training it was the spirit of the team that made me push myself in each event."
"The competition showed the pride that all of the participants have in their units and the bond that they all share as Soldiers," said Command Sgt. Maj. Fritzsching. "It enhanced the morale and esprit-de-corps across the entire Brigade. Everyone was a winner and we are better unit for having participated in this event."
| Date Taken: | 03.19.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2009 10:54 |
| Story ID: | 31966 |
| Location: | BALAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 141 |
| Downloads: | 110 |
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