Photo By Sgt. Jerry Zuetrong | Army Reserve Sgt. Brian Heisey, a medical logistics specialist with the Nashville,...... read more read more
FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Eight Army Reserve Soldiers from various downtrace units under the Pinellas Park, Florida-based Army Reserve Medical Command competed against 17 Army Reserve Soldiers of the Gillem Enclave, Georgia-based 3rd Theater Medical Command during the AR-MEDCOM and 3rd TMC Best Squad Competition held here, from March 24, 2025, to March 30, 2025.
Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Michael Bennett, a human resources specialist at AR-MEDCOM and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the AR-MEDCOM and 3rd TMC BSC cadre and support group, said the concept of this year’s Best Squad Competition was borne from lessons learned and observational conjectures from Command Sgt. Maj. John Hilton, the AR-MEDCOM command sergeant major.
“CSM Hilton had given us sort of a directive of just wanting to really capture as much training as we possibly could, and that kind of sparked the idea of the Best Squad Competition and we pursued it at that point,” said Bennett.
Hilton said the inspiration for the dual-command competition was also from both an economical and tactical standpoint, and during his conversation with Command Sgt. Maj. Todd R. Kaim, the 3rd TMC CSM.
“(Kaim) and I had talked about this for a while before we pulled the trigger and said ‘Hey, why don’t we do this together?’ and make it a combined competition,” Hilton said. “It is not only because it saves money, and it does save money, but it’s how we fight.”
Bennett said the Best Squad Competition amalgamated elements of the legacy Best Warrior Competitions, teamwork-based events centered around the squad concept and integration of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, or GAFPB, competition and the 18.6-mile long Norwegian Army Foot March.
For the AR-MEDCOM and 3rd TMC Best Squad Competition, we’ve conducted a variety of events, to include the following per day, Bennett said.
For the first day of the competition, we’ve had the competitors go through a conditioning and confidence course, hand grenade qualification course and a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear testing event with a simulated gas chamber, said Bennett. Next, all competitors took part in weapons qualification ranges comprising the M4 Carbine, the M17 Modular Handgun System, the M9 Pistol, the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and the M240L General-Purpose Machine Gun, said Bennett.
On the third day, competitors vied against one another in the Expert Physical Fitness Assessment blended with the GAFPB rules and regulations; to include the flexed-arm hang and the 1000-meter run, Bennett said.
Furthermore, the competitors were evaluated on their combat proficiencies and abilities through the Combined-Arms Live-Fire Exercise through a simulated city center with high-value targets, or HVTs, and enemy combatants testing their reflexes and rules of engagements, said Bennett.
Afterward, competitors took part in a shoot house event, litter obstacle course, drill and ceremonies session, realistic scenarios from the Medical Simulation Training Center here and an appearance board with command sergeants major spanning across the AR-MEDCOM organizational umbrella, Bennett said.
Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Spencer Vega, a wheeled vehicle mechanic and weapons and tactics specialist for the BSC cadre support team, said the emphasis was on realism as much as possible during the combat-centric events of the competition in lieu of legacy systems such as the multiple integrated laser engagement system gear, or MILES gear.
We’ve introduced simulation rounds in lieu of firing blanks or MILES gear reaction-based software for training aspects, Vega said.
“They get the real-world experience of being pressured to complete a mission while under stressful situations,” said Vega.
Army Reserve Sgt. Max Wright, a nutrition care specialist for the San Antonio, Texas-based 7454th Medical Operational Readiness Unit and the AR-MEDCOM Best NCO for this year’s BSC, said there were a few developmental moments he will remember and retain for his individual growth and to bring back to his unit.
“For this level of competition of Best Squad, my key takeaways were being able to thoroughly adapt and overcome most obstacles,” said Wright.
Wright, who participated in the 2023 AR-MEDCOM Best Warrior Competition and served as a cadre member for the 2024 AR-MEDCOM BWC, said communication was vital for seamless coordination and resolving differences in opinion.
“We communicated as a team and we moved as a unit,” said Wright. “Though there were days that some of us may or may not have disagreed with one another, but we made it work for the best benefit of the team.”
Army Reserve Spc. Manuel Chavoya, a veterinary food inspection specialist with the San Diego, California-based 7352nd Veterinary Detachment, said a key takeaway was to persevere no matter the degree of adversity.
“There are moments that you feel that you are not able to do it but push yourself and use any type of method to make sure that you obtain your goal,” said Chavoya.
Wright said he encourages other Army Reserve Soldiers to challenge themselves and to overcome any sense of hesitancy or lack of confidence in pursuing opportunities such as the Best Squad Competition.
“The first thing I will say is ‘where there is a will, there is a way,’” said Wright. “You want to get out of your comfort zone, you want to promote ahead of peers or if you want to inspire people with your leadership.”
“Like I said before, it does not take you being an NCO or it doesn’t matter the rank, “Wright said. “Anybody can inspire leadership, and anybody can inspire others to get out of their comfort zones and to achieve excellence.”
Chavoya said one of the most memorable moments of his experience is the camaraderie and esprit de corps he had with his squad members and other competitors.
“Again, we just met about seven to 10 days ago as strangers,” Chavoya said. “And to me, the best part of the Army is the people that you get to meet and the experiences that you get from working together. And I believe that is the hardest part, that you have to say goodbye to all your fellow Soldiers and hopefully you will see them one more time.”
Wright said his overall experience with the competition was very satisfactory.
“It was a great competition and very well put together,” Wright said. “I know that there were things that we didn’t get to do or accomplish but we’ve always adapted and adjusted fire and keep moving forward. At the end of the day, we had great training the entire week.”
Wright and Chavoya will advance onto the USARC-level competition later this year with three other recognized AR-MEDCOM competitors; Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Jennifer Phillips, AR-MEDCOM first squad leader and medical logistics specialist of the medical logistics specialist with the Madison, Wis. based 7302nd Medical Training Support Battalion, Cpl. Acasia Lanzaderas, shower and laundry specialist with the Fort Bragg, N.C. based 7458th Medical Operational Readiness Unit and Army Reserve Spc. Carlos Figueredo, a dental specialist with the Fort Hamilton, N.Y. based 7238th Medical Support Unit.
Hilton said despite the inclement weather and other difficulties, he was impressed by the resiliency of his “Warrior Medics” in pushing through it.
“Mother Nature made it challenging for you and you guys persevered through it, no problem,” Hilton said.
“But again, great job. I could not be more proud of all of you.”
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2025 13:30 |
| Story ID: | 494387 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US |
| Hometown: | SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, US |
| Web Views: | 109 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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