Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Rognstad | Specialist Megan Case, a human resources specialist with Headquarters, Headquarters...... read more read more
FORT CARSON, Colo.. - Six squads, representing companies from the 244th Engineer Battalion competed in the battalion’s Best Squad Competition Nov. 4-6, 2022. The event tested proficiency in basic soldier tasks: reacting to direct and indirect fire, marksmanship, properly checking the functionality of a military vehicle before operation, and emergency medical and evacuation procedures.
The 364th Engineer Company’s nine soldier-squad won the competition made up of of 42 soldiers from six squads and will move on to compete in a joint competition with the 647th Regional Support Group this winter at a yet to be determined location.
“It feels great to win this and represent our battalion,” said Sgt. Aaron Smrz, a nine-year veteran from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and the 364th’s squad's leader. “I could not have asked for a better squad. Half of them I had never met before, but I walked out of this feeling as if I have known them for years.”
The squads, all consisting of volunteers from a variety of military occupational specialties ranging from firefighters to human resources specialists, grinded it out for two long days demonstrating their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team.
“The big takeaways for this competition are squad cohesion and solid leadership at the squad level,” said Sgt. 1st Class Randall Rhyne, non-commissioned officer in charge of the competition. “The soldiers need to be working as a team, and improve themselves to be better leaders.”
One of the competition’s future leaders, Spc. Megan Case, a human resources specialist with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 416th Theater Engineer Command, volunteered to carry her squad’s 19-pound M249 light machine gun despite weighing under 100 pounds herself, for certain events. Case’s unbridled enthusiasm shined through the duration of the competition and she said she was happy to compete and grow as a soldier.
“To represent my company in something like this is an honor,” Case said. “I don’t get to do this every day in my regular Army job as a 42 Alpha (human resources specialist), so this type of training allows me to get back the basics of soldiering, while allowing me to gain experience working with a small unit to achieve a common objective.”
The Army’s Best Squad is a relatively new competition that focuses on the most influential level of leadership at the smallest level - the squad - a group ranging from five to ten soldiers that form the basis of all Army units.
“Everything begins at the squad level, and funnels out from there,” said 416th theater Engineer Command’s Sgt. Major Richard Dalton. “The importance of having competent, tactically proficient squads in the Army is crucial to having a functional, operational fighting force capable of winning today’s battles.”
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2022 17:31 |
| Story ID: | 432888 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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