The 406th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion holds the first Golden Crown Battle Games

Photo By Sgt. Adam Parent | U.S. Army Soldiers from the 406th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion celebrate their victory as the first team to win the Golden Crown Battle Games at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Sep. 14, 2019. The Golden Crown Battle Games is a competition designed to test groups of Soldiers on their ability to accomplish difficult physical tasks together as a team. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Adam Parent)  

CAMP GRAYLING, MI, UNITED STATES

09.14.2019

Story by Sgt. Adam Parent 

220th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP GRAYLING, Michigan (September 14, 2019) – U.S. Army Soldiers from multiple units within the 406th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion rose early to partcipate in the first Golden Crown Battle Games. The teams consisted of Soldiers from the 406th CSSB's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 645th Regional Support Group, 180th Transportation Company, 401st Transportation Company, 919th Inland Cargo Transportation Company, and the 952nd Quartermaster Company.
The competition challenged the Soldiers with a seven mile ruck march, sandbag carrying, blindfolded navigation, dragging a weighted sled, tire flipping, and a cook-off for a panel of judges.
“The games are based on being smart, communication, and providing clear instruction on what you want to get done,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Taj Keeler with the 645th RSG, the creator of the Golden Crown Battle Games. “And the overall goal of these games is not to be an individual, its to build teamwork.”
One of the most important aspects of the games was the ability for Soldiers to communicate effectively, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keeler. His goal was not only to challenge Soldiers during the competition, but also to see how well the units within the 406th CSSB communicated information to their Soldiers before the competition began. He believes the competitve nature of the Golden Crown Battle Games pushed Soldiers to work harder on their communication leading up to the games when compared to how units within the battalion have communicated in the past.
Once the physical challenges were completed the teams spent their afternoons preparing meals for a panel of five senior leaders of the 406th CSSB based off a box of ingredients supplied to them. The cook-off event afforded each team an opportunity to either gain or maintain a significant lead in their score from the morning events.
After the judges finished grading the meals and the scores were tallied the 406th CSSB's Headquarters and Headquarters Company team were declared the winners, and they were presented with a gold painted helmet as their trophy.
“In our team we were able to stick together and remember that we couldn't win it without all of us crossing the finish line,” said U.S. Army Spc. Eowyn Boyd, one of the competitors with the 406th CSSB HHC team.
The winning team will have bragging rights within the battalion for the next year, but they should not get too comfortable with being the champions of the Golden Crown Battle Games.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Keeler said, “next year that unit won't keep that crown, they gotta fight to maintain that crown!”

• Date Taken: 09.14.2019
• Date Posted: 09.24.2019 11:05
• Story ID: 340978
• Location: CAMP GRAYLING, MI, US