FORT HOOD, Texas – One of the leaders of resiliency within any unit is the unit ministry team. The team helps soldiers bounce back from a situation and help prepare soldiers to be able to bounce back.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade competed in a resiliency challenge hosted by the Unit Ministry Team here, July 23. The soldiers competed as teams, with one team representing each of the battalion’s four batteries.
“This event was a way for our UMT to reach out to Soldiers and promote the concept of resiliency in all areas of life,” said Capt. Jonathan Porter chaplain for 1st Bn., 21st FAR, 41st Fires Bde.
The challenge started off on a warm summer’s morning, with a four mile ruck march down a tank trail that parallels Turkey Run road, here. The competition then moved to the gym where the soldiers continued to push themselves.
At Applied Fitness Center the competitors moved on to bench-presses, where the Soldiers must lift 75 percent of their body weight as many times as they can before moving on to sit-ups. The sit-up portion saw three Rail Gunners did more than 200 situps each.
“The physical competition provided an example of pushing yourself and not giving up, and working together as a team,” said Porter.
The competition’s final challenge tested the Soldiers biblical knowledge.
At the end of the test, a winner was named, the Assassins, Battery A, 1st Bn. 21st FAR took home the top prize; a streamer for their battery guidon.
“I’m proud of my guys and I’m proud that the alpha assassins are leading the way,” said 2nd Lt. Ruston Thompson, platoon leader for 2nd platoon, Battery A, 1st Bn., 21st FAR, 41st Fires Bde.