Photo By Staff Sgt. Jonathan Campbell | Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team...... read more read more
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CAMP JAMES A. GARFIELD, Ohio – Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team competed in the battalion’s first-ever Bayonet Challenge here Aug. 14 and 15.
Over a period of 36 grueling hours during their monthly drill, Soldiers from Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and the Multi Purpose companies competed to be the battalion’s top squad.
The Bayonet Challenge was a result of months of planning and training, originating during the battalion’s annual training in June. It consisted of multiple events that tested individual Soldier skills and attention to detail.
Each event presented the opportunity for a Soldier to earn points for his squad. The squad with the most points won the right to be considered the battalion’s top squad, and to raise their engraved bayonet in victory.
The competing Soldiers were oriented to the challenge by Command Sgt. Maj. Troy Conrad and battalion commander Maj. Martin Wallenhorst on the evening of Aug. 13.
Conrad warned the Soldiers that it would be a physically and mentally challenging 36-hour test and reminded them to pace themselves and to work together. The format of the challenge would test their resolve, Conrad said.
Wallenhorst said everything in the event is tied to a real mission task.
“There is no filler,” Wallenhorst said.“If a squad struggles with land nav or weapons proficiency, that’s a gap we can close now, before it matters somewhere else. The competition adds another factor, though. When your squad is scored as one, you push harder for the Soldier next to you than you ever would alone.That’s the kind of squad we’re trying to build.”
Prior to the start of the challenge, the companies performed a packing list showdown, grading the Soldiers' attention to detail and preparedness as a squad. On the morning of Aug. 14, the challenge kicked off with a 1.5-mile squad kit run through the humid fog that enveloped the camp.
From there the competitors were given a written land navigation test, then provided grid coordinates and maps to find the different training event sites, which were spread out over the camp’s training area.
The Soldiers cycled through events during the day, including call for fire; preparing and operating a FGM-148 Javelin weapon system; preparing and throwing an M69 practice hand grenade from different positions; tactical combat casualty care under simulated stress; disassembly, reassembly and proper functions checks of each of the primary weapon systems of an Infantry squad (M4 carbine, M17 pistol and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon); and correctly deploying and recovering the M68 antipersonnel practice mine.
The Soldiers were given limited rations and were required to travel as a squad to each event. After completing the day events, the Soldiers unpacked their AN/PVS-14 monocular Night Vision Goggles and set off to the night time training events, consisting of disassembly, reassembly, and functions check of the M240B machine gun; donning their M50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask and Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology overgarment to Mission Oriented Protective Posture level 3 within EIB standard time.
They were required to fill a radio using a Simple Key Loader. They also were tested on their camouflage skills and given a surprise test assembling an M17 pistol and an M4 carbine under night vision.
The Soldiers were also given a final written test on unit history and vehicle maintenance knowledge.
On the morning of Aug. 15, after a brief rest, the Soldiers conducted a modified Combat Fitness Test prior to a six-mile road march, where they were required to stay together and finish together as a squad. Upon finishing, the squad who collectively tallied the most points earned their individual bayonet and the honors as top squad.
Staff Sgt. Draven Zook of Alpha Company was the top squad leader. Zook, who recently transferred to the battalion from 2-112th Infantry, explained that this was the first opportunity he had to work closely with the Soldiers in his new company.
“I thought the concept of having a squad competition at the battalion level was a great way to bring the companies together,” Zook said. “I met my squad about a month before the competition, and we used that time to cycle through the stations and prepare for the events we were aware of.
“One of my favorite parts of the process was seeing how motivated my squad remained throughout the monotonous repetitions of training, and through the challenge itself, regardless of how tired they became,” Zook added. “I was able to depend on my team leaders to stay motivated and keep a fire under their Soldiers. They did a fantastic job, and they deserve the recognition for it.”
Pfc. Runbin Wu, the newest Soldier on the top squad, described the challenge as “intense,” adding that it was very challenging mentally.
“I learned a lot about teamwork,” Wu said. “My squad helped me a lot on the ruck to make me pass. I think the most difficult part was after the day and night lanes, we still had to do the fitness test and then ruck six miles. I felt like I was already pushed to the limit after the day and night lanes.”
In addition to a competition among squads, the Bayonet Challenge provided numerous real benefits: It was an opportunity for the Soldiers to learn what they need to work on individually, and for leadership to discover what they need to focus on as the battalion moves into a new training cycle.
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2026 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 573445 |
| Location: | OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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