Photo By Pfc. Jesse May | U.S. Army Spc. Ian Sones assigned to 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. — “If you have the Sapper tab, why would you not want to be the best sapper?” That question, posed by 1st Lt. Brian Inganti of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion (9th BEB), 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team (2nd ABCT), 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID), cuts to the heart of what drives Soldiers to push beyond their limits. It is the same drive that brings competitors together each year at some of the U.S. Army’s most prestigious branch-level competitions — events where excellence is not aspirational, but expected. Soldiers with 3rd ID recently competed in two of the Army’s top branch skills competitions: The Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers Best Sapper Competition and the Gen. Raymond T. Odierno Best Redleg Competition. Both events are designed not simply to crown a winner, but to identify the Army’s sharpest minds and strongest performers — the best of the best.
The Best Sapper Competition has been a staple of Army combat engineering culture since 2005, when it was established as a venue for service members to showcase the skills demanded of the Army’s elite engineers. Held annually at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the multi-day event is open to two-person teams regardless of rank, military occupational specialty or branch. To compete, at least one team member must have earned a Sapper tab from the 28-day Sapper Leader Course. Over several grueling days, competitors are tested on land navigation, technical engineering tasks, marksmanship, mountaineering, casualty evacuation and physical endurance — often covering more than 50 miles on foot. The competition is formally named in honor of Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers, a former chief of engineers whose dedication to the engineer regiment helped shape the competition into what it is today. The Best Redleg Competition is newer by comparison. Fort Sill, Oklahoma — the ancestral home of the Field Artillery — hosted the inaugural Best Redleg Competition in May 2024. The eight-day event brought together 35 teams of field artillery Soldiers across the 13B [Cannon Crewmember], 13F [Forward Observer] and 13J [Fire Direction Center] military occupational specialties. The competition is named in honor of Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the 38th Chief of Staff of the Army and a proud Redleg who commanded units at every echelon from platoon to theater. Odierno, who passed away on Oct. 8, 2021, was known for his belief in the value of competition as a tool for forging readiness. The nickname 'Redleg' itself traces to the Mexican-American War, when field artillery Soldiers wore uniforms distinguished by scarlet stripes down the legs of their trousers — a tradition that became synonymous with the branch.
For Soldiers of 3rd ID, competing in these events is about more than individual achievement. It is about representing the Dogface Soldier legacy and bringing that standard of excellence back to the formation. “Representing 9th BEB, 2nd ABCT, 3rd ID, is a huge deal, and it’s a great honor,” said Inganti, who competed in the Best Sapper Competition alongside 1st Lt. Andrew Oberszut, a former platoon leader from the same platoon Inganti now commands. On the other hand, Staff Sgt. Dalton Ainsworth, a Fire Control Specialist with 3rd ID, competing in the Best Redleg Competition, described the weight of that responsibility. “I’m just excited for the opportunity," Ainsworth said. "It’s not very often that individuals get picked to represent your division in an Army competition. I will die out there if I have to.”
Across both competitions, a consistent theme emerged from competitors and organizers alike: Success begins with fundamentals. Whether ruck marching through the Ozarks or computing fire mission data under pressure at Fort Sill, every Soldier interviewed pointed back to the basics as the foundation of high performance. Sapper competitor Staff Sgt. Nathan Ornstein put it plainly: “Knowing the basics — bringing it back to when I was a private and learning the basics and how far that could bring you.” His teammate, Spc. Ian Sones, echoed the sentiment. “Once you’ve gone through Sapper school and you manage to tab, competing against others who have also tabbed shows what everyone can bring to the table, as far as knowledge and experience,” added Sones. For Ainsworth, that foundation is both technical and mental. As a section chief, he described relearning fundamental charts and fire direction procedures from the ground up — not for the competition, but for his Soldiers. “I can’t teach my guys how to do charts if I can’t do it myself,” Ainsworth said. “Personal accountability. That just builds the base, and then everything else stacks on top of the base.” Inganti described a similar approach to preparation, emphasizing deliberate, incremental training. “It is as simple as the basic calculations you learn in advanced individualized training or the basic office leadership course,” Inganti said. “Breaking it down into that ‘winning the moment’ sort of mindset is most important.”
Competing in Army-level skills competitions demands more than preparation — it demands a commitment to the standard, for oneself and for the Soldiers watching from back home. Pfc. Drayton Macbeth, a cannon crewmember competing in the Best Redleg Competition, described being the best in terms that went far beyond trophies. “Being the best to me means being the best version of yourself that you can give to the team or the unit,” Macbeth said. “Being disciplined, fit, healthy, just being in the moment when someone needs you. That’s being the best.” Command Sgt. Maj. Don Durgin, senior enlisted leader of 3rd ID, sees that drive as inseparable from the identity of the Dogface Soldier — and from the Division’s obligation to be ready. “Our Dogface Soldiers have a legacy of valor, one that no other unit can rival,” Durgin said. “The 3rd Infantry Division has a storied history, with 63 Medal of Honor recipients. Our Dogface Soldiers have proven themselves on every battlefield in history and will continue to do so because that is deeply ingrained in our DNA. The Soldiers of this Division are the lifeblood of our warfighting abilities; they will be ready when the call comes — this I absolutely trust.” Durgin drew a direct line between the spirit of competition and the Division’s defining legacy. “The ‘Dogface Soldier’ is a term that embodies the fighting spirit, resolve, and warrior ethos of the mighty Marne Division,” Durgin said. “Our stocky bulldog mascot, Rocky, represents this fighting spirit — hardheaded, full of grit and determined to win.” The Division’s motto, “Nous Resterons Là” — “We Shall Remain Here” — and its nickname, “Rock of the Marne,” were earned during World War I when 3rd ID Soldiers held their ground while surrounding units withdrew. “Competing in these arduous competitions directly emulates and showcases that warrior spirit,” Durgin said. “The grit, determination and refusal to quit in the face of adversity are the very qualities that define the Dogface Soldiers who stand in our formations every single day. By pushing themselves to their limits and beyond, our competitors honor the legacy of those who came before them and demonstrate their readiness to answer the nation’s call in any location, under any condition.” It is a spirit that each competitor carries with them into every event, every lane, and every mile. “I’m a proud Dogface Soldier.”
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 04.27.2026 14:44 |
| Story ID: | 563227 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 75 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Excellence in fundamentals: 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers compete for Best of the Best, by SPC Rebeca Soria, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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