352nd Civil Affairs Command finds its best warrior

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Felix Fimbres | Spc. Adam Engel, 401st Civil Affairs Bn., tackles the Fort Meade, Md., obstacle course at range 5 during the best warrior completion on April 2, 2012.  

FORT MEADE, MD, UNITED STATES

03.30.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Felix Fimbres 

U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)

FORT MEADE, Md. — The best warrior season is in full effect and the 352nd is leading the way with one of the most grueling best warrior competitions yet.

“We like to make it a challenge,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Harry Bennett, “We are very proud of Staff Sgt. Klatt and Spc. Arrington who won last year’s (USACAPOC Best Warrior), both from our command, and we think having a hard competition makes our soldiers ready to go to USACAPOC(A) win and represent the command at the Army Reserve level.”

Klatt and Arrington both found themselves at this year’s best warrior as well, however in a different role than competitor. This year Klatt was one of the cadre team, the soldiers behind the scenes who make the event tick. “We’re doing something a little special this year, if a competitor is able to beat Klatt, they’ll get bonus points,” said Sgt. 1st Class Frederick B. Riccio, “but if they don’t beat me, they’ll lose points.”

Arrington meanwhile, found himself in the role of sponsor, helping his fellow soldier, Pfc. Amber Nolan, get through the demanding competition. “I’m happy to be here as a sponsor, helping her out,” said Arrington. And help he did, rucking alongside Nolan, providing Nolan with both motivation and a study partner.

After the second event, a 10k road march some Soldiers where already feeling the pain, Sgt. Steven D. Rhyne found himself nursing some rather large blisters, “I’m kind of stubborn and continued with the desert, jungle style boots, and probably should have gone with the newer style of boots,” said Rhyne, “I’ll still continue, but I won’t be much of a competitor now.”

And there was a lot left to continue with. The road march conveniently ended at the range, allowing the competitors to go directly into the range portion of the competition. Which was immediately followed up with a range related mystery event: dissemble and reassemble the M9 pistol followed immediately by test fire and malfunctions test.

As the sun began to set, the soldiers walked across the street and where greeted with an obstacle course, which allowed for three soldiers to run through simultaneously. A quick dinner was followed by a full night’s worth of Warrior Tasks, putting the physically exhausted and tired soldiers through a mental ringer.

“These soldiers have endured an intense schedule of events, but they also started to mold as a team. They’ve developed respect for their fellow competitors and made new friendships,” said Bennett

Around midnight the land navigation portion started off in the dark and ended well past sunrise. But there was no time to rest, a quick breakfast and a written exam awaited the tired competitors.

The final event would prove to be the most grueling. A Modern Army Combative’s tournament capped the two day ordeal, pitting these warriors against each other in physical combat.

In the end, Sgt. Paul Rothfeld of the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion, in Riverdale, Md. and Spc. Adam Engel of the 401st Civil Affairs Battalion in Webster, N.Y., were chosen. These two Best warriors will now go on to represent the 352nd at the U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) Best Warrior competition which will be held at Fort Bragg, N.C. in May of 2012.

“Rothfeld and Engel are a reflection of the great Soldiers we have in the command and continue a tradition of winning. They follow Klatt and Arrington, who won at Fort Bragg last year and went on to the U.S. Army Reserve best warrior competition. The 352nd is well represented by this year's Best Warrior winners,” said Bennett.

• Date Taken: 03.30.2012
• Date Posted: 04.11.2012 15:38
• Story ID: 86571
• Location: FORT MEADE, MD, US
• Hometown: RIVERDALE, MD, US
• Hometown: WEBSTER, NY, US