Drill, ceremony competition helps motivate soldiers

Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Brandon Wingo, a joint distribution center non-commissioned officer with the 240th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and an Augusta, Ga., native, leads soldiers from the JDC during the drill and ceremony competition Jan. 13 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Scot Britton)  

AL ASAD AIR BASE, IRAQ

01.13.2011

Courtesy Story

224th Sustainment Brigade

By Capt. Angela Cervelli
224th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq— Soldiers from various sections within the 240th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), competed for first place at the 240th CSSB Drill and Ceremony competition Jan. 13 at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.

Six teams made up of 240th CSSB soldiers competed at the D&C competition. Each team executed a regular D&C phase with mandatory commands and was graded on the accuracy and execution of commands.

“The D&C competition for me was very rewarding,” said Staff Sgt. Kareem Mills, night battle non-commissioned officer with the 240th CSSB operations section, and a Brooklyn, N.Y., native. “Seeing the soldiers that I work with in the S3 [operations section] compete to win, shows a high level of discipline, motivation and dedication toward the history of drill and ceremony.”

Winners of the competition received medals with purple ribbons.

“The D&C competition was fun, and I really enjoyed being out there with my fellow soldiers,” said Spc. Charmaynn Howard, administrative specialist with the 240th CSSB and a Bronx, N.Y., native.

The second phase of the competition was the freestyle event. Each of the teams were graded on creativity and synchronization.

“I really enjoyed our unit’s drill and ceremony competition,” said Sgt. Melissa Betts, human resource non-commissioned officer with the 240th CSSB, and a Portsmouth, Va., native. “It gave the soldiers a chance to show their D&C abilities and how creative they can be for the freestyle event.”

The freestyle event was the most anticipated and most entertaining event. Soldiers used dance moves, singing and marching to show off their creativity.

“The 240th drill and ceremony competition was a great opportunity for section cohesion, and allowed our soldiers the opportunity to get recognized for a job well done,” said Sgt. Earl Grater, operations section non-commissioned officer with the 240th CSSB, and a Pottstown, Pa., native.

“The D&C competition was a great event; we had a lot of fun competing. It would be excellent to have another one with a bigger environment. Winning isn’t always everything - it’s the only thing the S-1 [administrative] shop will accept,” said Spc. Caleb Dufrene, administrative specialist with the 240th CSSB, and a Lockport, La., native.

• Date Taken: 01.13.2011
• Date Posted: 01.23.2011 15:39
• Story ID: 64066
• Location: AL ASAD AIR BASE, IQ