Fort Bragg, N.C. 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 178th Signal Company hosts and wins the first Best Signaleer CommOlympics competition, Jan. 26.
"I'm very proud of my [paratroopers]," said Capt. Erik Anderson, company commander for 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 178th Signal Company. "I couldn't have asked for a better team."
The Best Signaleer CommOlympics was a three-day competition that consisted of warrior tasks and battle drills, as well as basic signal tasks. Six signal companies throughout Fort Bragg competed for the title of Best Signaleer.
"Initially [Capt. Anderson] and I wanted to do a two-week train up, but we decided to stick with basic communications like radio signal tasks," explained 1st Sgt. Charles Vaughn, company 1st Sgt. for 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 178th Signal Company.
"To ensure we included the total soldier concept, we went with basic land navigation, medical skills, marksmenship, and physical fitness."
On the first day, Jan. 22, of the Signaleer CommOlympics, soldiers took an Army Physical Fitness Test in duty uniform, followed by a 6.5 mile ruck march to the range where soldiers participated in a stress shoot, and basic casualty assesment.
"My favorite event in the CommOlympics was the stress shoot," said Pfc. Ian Manuel, a competitor with the 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade, Special Troops Battalion, 178th Signal Company. "It definitely puts you in an uncomfortable position, but it pushes you to do your best."
Later in the week, the teams competed for best time in land navigation, but with a twist; at every point, signaleers had to complete basic signal tasks. There were five signal point tasks. One of the tasks involved memorizing equipment placement. Once the team managed to find their way through all points, they went back to the first task to test their memory.
On the third day of the competition, the teams participated in a Signaleer Board to evalaute basic knowledge on Army doctrine, regulation, and Signal Regiment history. After the board, the teams conducted Combat Water Training where they learned how to properly water proof their equipment.
Directly after the CWT, signaleers ran the All American Mile. Once they completed the obstacle course, they were done for the day.
"Now that the last day is here, I feel exhausted and sore," laughed Spc. Marcus Collins, a competitor with 50th Signal Battalion. "But I'm very happy that I met other signal companies."
To conclude the competition, all the teams and their companies conducted an Esprit de Corps run in order to encourage camaraderie among the Signal community.
Capt. Anderson and 1st Sgt. Vaughn created this competition as a way to bring the signal communities together.
"When I first joined the Signal Corps, the Signal community was very tight," said 1st Sgt. Vaughn. "When I was stationed in Germany, once a year Signal units would meet up in Kaiserslautern and we would participate in Esprit de Corps events."
"I personally don't feel like the Signal Corps is as tight as they used to be," explained 1st Sgt. Vaughn. "Now that I'm in a position of impact and influence, I wanted to run a best signaleer competition. I shared my idea with Capt. Anderson, and oddly enough, he had the same idea."
1st Sgt. Vaughn hopes the Signal CommOlympics will become an annual event.
The 178th Signal Company command team would like to thank the command teams of the companies who participated in the event.
"This could not have been as successful if the other units had not selected competitors who were motivated," expressed 1st Sgt. Vaughn. "As a 1st Sgt. in the Signal Corps, that lets me know that the future of the Signal Regiment is good to go."