FORT BLISS, Texas – The annual Black Jack Warrior Competition was conducted a little different than last year’s competition with an emphasis on teamwork and critical thinking. Fifteen competitors were being evaluated from the time they stepped foot on Fort Bliss, Texas July 14, 2018 until the last day of the competition July 20, 2018.
The week-long competition identified and recognized those individuals that encompass the total Soldier concept as a Soldier, non-commissioned officer (NCO) and officer from 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command’s four subordinate brigades and 32d AAMDC Headquarters and Headquarters Battery.
It all began with an icebreaker at Command Sgt. Maj. Stephen Burnley’s home, the 32d AAMDC Command Sgt Maj. Nothing goes better with an icebreaker than Equal Opportunity and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention scenarios during the social event.
“They were being assessed from the minute they arrived on their ability to adhere to Army values, on and off duty, in and out of uniform,” said Burnley.
The competitors learned quickly that teamwork would result in success for the obstacles ahead. They learned to be resilient, think critically and adapt depending on the training.
“We had a lot of team building this time around,” said Burnley. “Everything in the Army isn’t done individually, it’s done as a team. They actually competed as a brigade in certain events.”
“You have to be proficient in basic tasks in order to be able to complete complex tasks,” said Master Sgt. Keyon Cummings, the G3 plan’s operations non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for 32d AAMDC, and this year’s Black Jack Warrior Competition NCOIC. “I know what I am capable of doing. I know how I was brought up as a child, a man, a Soldier and a leader. So, I wanted to place these competitors in similar situations to expose them to tough, realistic training that would teach them what their limits may be.”
The events consisted of the Leader Reaction Course, where Soldiers were evaluated on communication, leadership, critical thinking and course completion. The Medical Simulation Training Course, land navigation, hot and cold load training from rotary wing support, situational training (STX) lanes with rotary wing support and the Air Assault Obstacle Course, as well as a leadership board.
“I think the Black Jack Warrior Competition is awesome,” said Master Sgt. Les Jackson, the 32d AAMDC chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense senior non-commissioned officer and the NCOIC of last year’s competition. “This year, they added more team cohesiveness within the events.”
“What I noticed is, it wasn’t just the NCO’s leading, or the officer’s leading,” Jackson continued. “Every competitor had the chance to lead their brigade team through certain events.”
Cummings motivated the competitors on ‘the tough one’ while negotiating the air assault obstacle course.
“What goes up, must come down,” said Cummings.
Throughout the competition, the competitors said Black Jack was the most realistic training they have ever experienced.
“When you give them realistic training, it is more memorable,” said Sgt. Maj. Nakia Taylor, 32d AAMDC, G3 operations Sgt. Maj. “The level of instructions caused Soldiers to execute well.”
“This was a fantastic competition,” said 32d AAMDC, commanding general, Brig. Gen. Christopher Spillman. “It was well executed.”
In the end, 1st Lt. Mitchel Hess, 108th ADA BDE, Fort Bragg, N.C., was identified as the best officer; Sgt. Abelino Leal, 108th ADA BDE, Fort Bragg, N.C., was the competition’s top non-commissioned officer; Spc. Kiel Nelson, HHB, 32d AAMDC, Fort Bliss, TX, was the winner for the Soldiers.
For Hess, it was an honor to be given the opportunity to compete amongst the best of the best.
“Growing up in a competitive environment, winning has always been upper most in my mind,” said Hess. “I think everything you do in life, you can treat it as a competition or challenge. If you settle for less, that’s the only time you aren’t winning. I am proud and blessed to win the coveted title of Black Jack Officer of the Year.”
“As far as winning goes, I think it’s more than that,” said Leal. “I think it is more about winning and learning than winning itself. No matter what you do, you’re going to take what you learned back to your unit. Whether you move on or not, you’ve learned something from this.”
“Winning the competition is one of the greatest achievements I have had in my life,” said Nelson. “The competitor's experience is what fueled my physical endurance to win. The competition was both at an individual and team level. The knowledge I earned from competing in the 32d AAMDC Black Jack Warrior Competition is what I'm really taking away.”
Each Soldier will represent 32d AAMDC in the 2018 U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) Best Warrior Competition.
“I just want to thank the G3 section for putting this together,” said Burnley. “Master Sgt. Cummings took the lead on this and Master Sgt. Shay got the initial orders out there. This doesn’t happen overnight, it takes months of preparation and coordination.”
Spillman acknowledged all of the competitor’s for being the best of the best among their brigades.
Spillman congratulated each of the competitors and thanked everyone who pulled the competition together. Burnley also acknowledged Master Sgt. Dennis Shay, the 32D AAMCD sexual assault response coordinator, and Cummings for helping to make this competition a success.
“Ultimately this is all about excellence,” said Spillman. “Excellence at an individual level. It’s about demonstrating that you are truly efficient as a Soldier, warrior, and a leader.”
“This is important because all of the things you had to demonstrate while you were competing, are the kind of things that need to propagate below you,” Spillman continued. “If you are a leader, and you have this degree of excellence, I guarantee you a lot of that is rubbing off on your subordinates.”
“If you are a young Soldier that’s competing, what you are achieving is rubbing off on your peers because they see you as an example. Most Soldiers want to excel. Therefore, they will do everything they can to be as good as you are.”
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2018 11:23 |
| Story ID: | 290743 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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