Photo By Staff Sgt. Kelly Carlton | Lt. Col. Gary Calese, commander, 94th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement...... read more read more
FORT RILEY, Kan. – Competitors from all four battalions within 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade arrived here to join in 1st Infantry Division’s Victory Week, held here annually in June. Event winners from 4th MEB Dauntless Week brought their unit spirit and warrior skills in an attempt to bring home the 2012 Victory Week trophy.
The 1st Infantry Division official website states the purpose of the annual "Victory Week" held in June at Fort Riley is to “honor current and former members of the 1st ID, commemorate our fallen Warriors, induct nominated members of the Distinguished Member of the Regiment [DMOR], and celebrate the Big Red Ones's lineage and history.”
The 4th MEB is a subordinate unit to 1st ID. As in past years, once Dauntless Week is completed, the winners compete at division.
Among the many events, a big attraction was the Army combative tournament, which 4th MEB won with two fighters earning first place in their weight class.
Lt. Col. Gary Calese, commander, 94th Engineer Battalion, 4th MEB, 1st ID, was in attendance during day two of the three-day combatives tournament, and witnessed one of his soldiers, Spc. Timothy Brandon, finish in the top three of the 205-pound weight class.
“Spc. Brandon is quiet and determined, one of those quietly motivated individuals,” said Calese.
Brandon is a great warrior and all-around Soldier who is technical in his job and is a proficient fighter, Calese continued.
“I think we just saw how good he is by watching him finish in third place today,” said Calese.
Leadership support during the combatives matches was evident as along with Calese, Sgt. 1st Class Jason C. Eggleston, combat engineer, 94th Engineer Battalion, 4th MEB, 1st ID, was ringside all three days.
Eggleston admits that because of his10 years of martial arts training and many competitions, he is viewed as the team’s top technical adviser and honored coach, and as such, he says he couldn’t be happier about the winning results of the fighters.
“I am happy, overall I’m proud to work with these good-hearted guys,” said Eggleston.
Injured in his second match, Eggleston, who says he wasn’t planning on competing, spent the remainder of the competition doing what he says he does best – "being a mentor."
Although it wasn’t the top trophy, Dauntless ultimately won combatives for Victory Week. The brigade also earned the basketball championship, playing four straight games in as many hours during the final day of playoffs.
Player-coach, 1st Lt. Stephen Brooks, executive officer, 77th Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, 4th MEB, 1st ID, played every quarter of all four playoff games, and says he was a little nervous when the team lost the first game but finished with three wins to earn the title.
“It feels good,” said Brooks, “After we lost the first game I was a little nervous because we were all tired.”
Other events the brigade competed in include a 10 mile run, color guard, Victory Warrior competition, arm wrestling, and Xbox competition, golf scramble where 4th MEB placed third, water polo where the unit team placed second, a tug-o-war challenge, softball and flag football.
At the closing ceremony, 1st ID Fort Riley senior commander, Brig. Gen. Donald M. MacWillie, and 1st ID Fort Riley command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rivera, handed out the awards and t-shirts to all of the first place winners. Also in attendance was Command Sgt. Maj. William Allen, brigade command sergeant major, 4th MEB, 1st ID.
“It was a good, tough competition and very well organized,” said. “There are a lot of soldiers where Fort Leonard Wood is their first duty station so getting to see bigger post like Fort Riley, is a good experience.”
“Overall, Victory Week is a great time and a great competition,” said Allen.
| Date Taken: | 06.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2012 01:48 |
| Story ID: | 90363 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 154 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldiers, warriors, competitors, all the same, by SSG Kelly Carlton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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