FORT CARSON, Co. –Nearly 30 lieutenants from throughout 4th Sustainment Brigade competed in a best squad and best lieutenant competition held May 21 and 22. The competitors completed a variety of events ranging from the obstacle course, road marches, land navigation to combatives.
“Of course there’s going to be pressure to perform well. No one wants to underperform and have Col. Kent mad at you,” said 1st Lt. Tyler Ayres, brigade adjutant, 4th Sustainment Brigade. “I think competitions like this are one of the healthiest ways for individuals to push themselves beyond what they think their limits are.”
Ayres finished as the overall winner of the competition and 1st Lt. Haley Ann Harrison, battalion personnel officer, 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4SB, was the top female lieutenant.
“This competition helped me realize the areas that I should improve in, the experience highlighted weaknesses,” Harrison said. “But overall, I’m proud of pushing through and giving my best effort.”
Seven companies from the brigade each submitted a squad of soldiers to compete for the title of best squad. The overall victory belongs to 22 Human Resources Company, 4STB, 4SB. The team nicknamed the Outlaws, took the lead early in the competition and never looked backed.
“Our group trained together a lot leading up to the competition to help us learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” said Pfc. Courtney Ballengee, human resource specialist, 22HR, 4STB. “With us pushing each other and picking each other up, we’re a lot closer now.”
The contest was designed to challenge each individual and each squad, making everyone dig deep to want to finish.
“I feel like the overall competition was a great morale booster,” said Spc. Jarnesha Akins, human resource specialist, 22HR, 4STB. “It challenged each squad to work together, to make critical decisions, and to overcome personal weaknesses.”
While the winners of the squad competition have bragging rights over their peers, Lt. Ayres is not so sure about himself.
“We have a lot of great young leaders in our brigade and I’m happy to be considered one of them,” Ayres said. “My performance has not set me apart from my peers, I did not win every event, nor was I close to winning every event. This gives me something to reach for if I get to compete in the next one.”
The competitors would all like the brigade to continue having similar events in the future.
“I would love to see this become an event the brigade holds annually,” Harrison said. “It doesn’t always have to be a competition, particularly team events. They really help build spirit and comradery.”
-30-