Courtesy Photo | The participants in the 642nd Regional Support Group Best Warrior Competition with...... read more read more
FORT BENNING, Ga. - Although the Soldiers were not allowed timepieces, their days started at 4 a.m.
There were no scheduled meals and no food other than issued MREs. Down time was all but nonexistent. What the 642nd Regional Support Group Best Warrior Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., had were plenty of tests.
A 26-minute squat thrust marathon. A 50-question written exam. Shooting competitions. Blindfolded weapons assembly. A written essay. A 6-mile road march with “roadblock” tasks that had to be completed before continuing. A sudden memory quiz based on items shown earlier in the day. Land navigation, an appearance board and an obstacle course. To name a few.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Chambers of New York, first sergeant for the 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion’s Headquarters Company, said the competition was the best and fastest-paced training he’s had since active duty.
“There wasn’t any room to get prepared while you were there.” Chambers said.
The five-day event, which started at the end of February, pitted five Reserve Soldiers from units under the 642nd Regional Support Group against each other.
Chambers won the NCO of the Year while Spc. Dominic Plummer of Stone Mountain, Ga., a team leader with the 787th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, won Soldier of the Year.
Plummer then went on to win the top spot in the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Best Warrior Competition a week later and will be competing in another Best Warrior Competition again in April. He said the contests have been a wonderful experience.
“It’s challenged me in so many ways I couldn’t imagine,” he said.
Plummer, who has been with the unit for four years, said the toughest part was preparing for the events before they were held. He had to balance training on his own with his studies at Georgia Perimeter College and his civilian job of catering for an Atlanta restaurant.
In fact, Plummer said he was late getting home from his civilian employment and was not ready for the squat thrust "mystery event" held soon after their arrival at Fort Benning.
“My body was not prepared for it,” he said.
Because the Soldiers were not allowed any electronics, to include watches, they had to rely upon their sponsors to keep them on schedule. The Soldiers were responsible to feed themselves when they could from the issued MREs and were only allowed water. They had to wear their helmets and body armor constantly when not sleeping or showering.
Chambers, who subsequently placed third in the 143rd competition, said it was tougher than other Best Warrior Competitions he has participated in.
“I thought it was a little more physically taxing,” Chamber said. “We were pretty much going hot until 2100.”
Other events included a qualification range with moving targets, a shooting exercise to see who had the tightest shot groups and a combined box of different disassembled weapons where Soldiers had to pick out the parts and assemble each. One contest had the Soldiers examine a display of military items for one minute without taking notes, then face a quiz on it at the end of the day.
642nd Regional Support Group Command Sgt. Maj. John K. Zimmerman, who pointed out the competition was planned and run entirely by NCOs, said several of the Soldiers told him it was the best thing they had done in their military careers.
“By the end, some of the support staff and sponsors were holding sidebar competitions against each other,” Zimmerman said. “It was an event that pumped you up and made you proud to be a Soldier.”
Plummer, who only decided to enter the Best Warrior Competition after several Soldiers in his unit suggested it, said he loved the experience and concentrated on doing the best he could throughout.
“I kind of made it my philosophy for 2014 to try new things,” Plummer said. “It’s gone pretty well so far.”
| Date Taken: | 03.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2014 17:14 |
| Story ID: | 124975 |
| Location: | FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | NEW YORK, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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