Photo By Spc. Brianna Badder | Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) start a 2-mile run with their...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) hosted the annual Best Air Assault Competition, May 24th, 2023, at The Sabalauski Air Assault School as part of Week of the Eagles. The competition promotes esprit de corps amongst the Soldiers and tests their unique capabilities as the world's only Air Assault division.
Eight teams across the division were chosen to represent their unit in the eight events.
The event started with a 6-mile ruck march, immediately followed by a gear layout. The teams then moved into a written exam followed by a hands-on inspection of sling loads. Throughout the rest of the day, teams competed together in timed events including the obstacle course, plotting pickup zones and landing zones, a rappelling race and a 2-mile run wearing improved outer tactical vests (IOTV).
Participants of the event agreed that the competition is a necessary part of strengthening pride in being a Screaming Eagle Soldier.
1st Lieutenant John Burke, an infantry officer with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said that being at Fort Campbell has afforded the opportunity to become proficient in the tasks taught at The Sabalauski Air Assault School.
“I’ve been able to run through the obstacle course many times since being here at Fort Campbell, and I think that was one of our team’s strengths,” said Burke. “We went into it with the knowledge we had and did the best we could with it.”
Burke also said that he thinks holding competitions like these is an important way to give Soldiers of the division opportunities to showcase their unique skillset.
“The 101st is the world’s only air assault division, and it gives the units an opportunity to display air assault proficiency in a competitive setting,” said Burke.
Sgt. Michael Chapman, an infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, agreed that as Air Assault-qualified Soldiers, there is an importance to taking pride in their skills.
“I believe that having this competition really instills Air Assault pride within the units while allowing us to brush up on Air Assault knowledge and tasks,” said Chapman.
At the end of the competition, Chapman and Burke’s team earned the most points and won the 2023 Best Air Assault Competition.
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.25.2023 15:29 |
| Story ID: | 445477 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 116 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 2023 Week of the Eagles Best Air Assault, by SPC Brianna Badder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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