Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | Sgt. Joseph Baker, an M1 Armor crewman with I troop, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored...... read more read more
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Sgt. Joseph Baker recently competed in the state-level Best Warrior Competition here, winning in the best noncommissioned officer category.
Baker, a resident of Williamsport, Pa., serves as an M1 Abrams Tank armor crewman with I troop, 3rd Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
Baker said he credits his performance to the support he gets from his family and his unit. His wife supported him by taking care of their two young children while members of his unit trained with him in the evenings at their armory. In fact, Baker was originally an alternate and only had 1-2 weeks to prepare.
“All our equipment right now is packed to go to NTC [National Training Center], so our supply sergeant got me an empty ruck which we filled with weights to make it 50 pounds, then I would ruck on the treadmills,” he said, adding that he would ruck, run and lift with some guys in the unit.
Baker attributed his success so far, at least in part, to the leadership he shows within the unit. Because of the nature of his civilian job and because he is somewhat older than most of the other guys, they feel they can approach him with any issues they’re facing, or just to talk.
“In the civilian world, I’m a mental health program specialist with the state, so my civilian job and my experience in the National Guard definitely reinforce each other,” he said.
Baker enlisted at age 33, and turns 37 this year. He said he always wanted to serve, but life kept getting in the way; first with college, then marriage and kids. Then finally, he and his wife were talking about how the kids were both in school now and he wanted to get his Master’s degree.
“Then we were at the beach and the guys next to us were in the National Guard, and they said ‘they upped the age requirement, how old are you?’ And my wife looked at me and said ‘I would actually be comfortable with that at this point,’ so I decided to go for it,” he explained, adding that he decided not to go to Officer Candidate School (OCS), because he always wanted to be a sergeant.
Baker described a high level of cohesion within his unit that doesn’t always exist in the National Guard where Soldiers are usually only together one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer and can live far away from their home station.
“Within my tank company, we have weekly dinners, and I know most units in the guard don’t do that. We know each other’s families by first name, each other’s wives, children, we have group chats, we work out together, we’re really cohesive,” said Baker.
Baker described a virtuous cycle in which his career in social work reinforces the unit’s cohesiveness, which helped him prepare for the challenging competition in a short time and supports everyone’s success as Soldiers.
The competition included a mix of physical and mental tasks intended to be stressful and test the Soldiers’ endurance and was designed to feature basic soldiering tasks not unique to any military occupational specialty.
The ten events included: a written exam, the Army Physical Fitness Test, M4 carbine zero and qualification, M9 pistol qualification, obstacle course, a six mile road march, a night/day land navigation challenge, a mystery event, a warrior tasks evaluation, and finally, a leadership/appearance board.
“We all had good camaraderie together and we were able to work together and do little hip-pocket training sessions and encourage one another, so it was challenging, but in a good way that promoted growth,” said Baker.
Although it was a hard-fought competition, the competitors said they were helping each other succeed, learn and become better Soldiers. After a day of competition, everyone worked together to study for upcoming events.
“Everyone was competing to do their individual best, not to put anyone else down,” said Baker. ‘It was an excellent experience, and I think anybody who really tries will get what they want out of it.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Lt. Col. Angela King-Sweigart (717)861-8829, or e-mail ng.pa.paarng.list.ftig-pao@mail.mil
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2018 11:28 |
| Story ID: | 275015 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 366 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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