Photo By Staff Sgt. Willis Hobbs | Soldiers representing the 75th Field Artillery Brigade make their way up a hill...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – Competitors stepped off the plane and took a deep breath, filling their lungs with the fresh, mountain air of Colorado Springs. Every year, Soldiers from across the country travel to one location to compete in the III Armored Corps Best Squad Competition. This year’s location was Fort Carson, Colorado, otherwise known as the “Mountain Post.”
Twelve teams of five Soldiers each arrived in Colorado Springs to participate in the grueling six-day event. The competition included 14 scored events – an Army Combat Fitness Test, the Mabry Mile obstacle course, day and night land navigation, medical skills lanes, warrior tasks and battle drills, M4 qualifications, a stress shoot, patrolling, urban operations, squad defense, a mystery event, a written test, a 12-mile foot march and a board. The competition’s scoring was based on three categories: Best Squad, Best Noncommissioned Officer, and Best Soldier.
“The competition judges the physical and tactical proficiency levels of each individual Soldier who’s coming here,” said Staff Sgt. Laycen Brown, a cadre member of the competition and the senior Pre-Ranger instructor assigned to READY Co, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Inf. Div. “It tests their tactical skills with weapons, physical fitness and their ability to be a well-rounded Soldier.”
Day zero of the competition consisted of travel and an ice breaker, allowing participants to meet their competition and spend time adjusting to the altitude difference before the challenges began.
“We’re already acclimated to the elevation, which automatically gives us an upper hand,” said Sgt. Alec Martinez, an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., Fort Carson, Colorado, and the squad leader for Team 8.
Some teams arrived days or even weeks earlier to get acclimated to the elevation of the Rocky Mountains, training by hiking on trails such as the famous Manitou Incline. With Fort Carson’s altitude of 6,000 feet above sea level, this kind of forethinking demonstrated the type of tactical and survival knowledge a winning squad should possess.
Day one of the competition began at 5 a.m. with a fitness test. The ACFT consists of six scored events including deadlifts, a standing power throw, hand-release pushups, a sprint-drag-carry, a plank and a two-mile run. These events, which measure Soldiers’ endurance, strength, speed and agility, allowed competitors to individually earn their team more points. Following the ACFT were two events held at the same time – medical lanes and warrior tasks and battle drills. Competitors rotated between the two lanes being evaluated on their abilities to perform first aid, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and warrior tasks as well as combat techniques, navigation and communications. The final event of the day was land navigation, which unfortunately began as an onslaught of spring showers poured down. Damp, tired and cold, competitors were required to locate points throughout the muddy prairies of Fort Carson during both day and night to fully gauge the technical and tactical skills of each team.
“We got a little bit wet,” said Sgt. Andrew Sulzman, a cavalry scout with Team 3 representing 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. “It’s like they say, ‘If it ain't raining, we ain't training.’”
The second day of the competition began with the Mabry Mile obstacle course, named after George L. Mabry Jr., a Medal of Honor recipient and former Ivy Soldier who led the attack through Hurtgen Forest in WWII. Following the lanes was an M4 stress shoot, testing the teams’ physical endurance and marksmanship abilities.
The competition’s third day consisted of squad maneuvers, where competitors were assessed on their aptitude at moving as a team while conducting urban operations, patrolling and defending their squad against simulated enemies.
Day four consisted of the highly anticipated mystery event – trekking up Commo Hill to perform a challenge inspired by Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, a Medal of Honor recipient and former Ivy Soldier who fought in the Battle of Kamdesh. Afterwards, teams moved to a classroom where they showcased their knowledge of various Army subjects with a written test.
The final day of the competition began early in the morning with a 4 a.m. 12-mile foot march. Teams raced against each other and the clock, required to cross the finish line before three hours elapsed or face disqualification. Once the ruck ended, teams made their way to their final individual portion of the competition – the board. Donned in their Army Service Uniforms, each Soldier entered the room to be questioned in person by members of the board.
Once the board was complete, teams finally got to relax at the award ceremony dinner banquet where the winners of the competition were announced. After five days of intense challenges, Team 1 representing Fort Bliss, Texas won the title of III Corps’ “Best Squad.”
“It definitely feels surreal,” said Spc. Diego Gonzalez, a cavalry scout with Team 1 representing 6th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. “There was great execution from every one of our team members pushing each other to get to the finish line. The training we got from the III Corps competition was very beneficial. This is knowledge, information and technical skills that we can carry with us for the rest of our careers.”
Even though this competition is complete, the challenge is not over yet. The five winning competitors will soon make their way to the U.S. Army Forces Command Best Squad Competition to face off once again against Soldiers of the top caliber from each Corps unit.
“We’re going to continue like we have for the past few competitions,” said Staff Sgt. Zackery Rebiejo, a cavalry scout and the squad leader for Team 1. “We’re going to keep training and keep up our fitness levels and strive for greatness.”
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| Date Taken: | 06.10.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2023 16:43 |
| Story ID: | 446678 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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