Photo By Sgt. Aaron Ricca | Soldiers from the California Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry,...... read more read more
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CAMP ROBERTS, Calif.—Trash talking by highly competitive service members during military physical fitness challenges goes together like guns and bullets. The Iron Squad Competition (ISC) does not fall short of chances to scream encouragement for fellow teammates or rip into your rivals. The California Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry, Alpha Company, sent around 60 of their “Killers” into the fray to participate in four timed events as part of the companies’ first annual ISC August 19, 2011.
“It’s a good opportunity to build morale and esprit de corps within the unit and it gives soldiers the opportunity to cultivate competiveness amongst themselves,” said company commander 1st Lt. Vincent Castillo.
The soldiers started the competition at 5 a.m. with a timed six-mile ruck run in full battle gear through some of the hilly Camp Roberts, Calif., backcountry and eventually along the roads of the garrison. Squads had to cross the finish line with no more than 25 meters between the lead and trail squad member. The 2nd platoon, 2nd squad finished first with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes.
“After the ruck [run] everybody was smoked,” said Pfc. Brandon Martinez while resting before the next event.
Casualty treatment, delivering a 9-line medical evacuation report, and carrying a wounded comrade on a litter to safety in full battle gear were the next tests of perseverance and stamina. Now that the tone was set by a leader, each tick of the clock was crucial. Company medics evaluated technique, demoting 10 points for each violation. The tenacious 2nd platoon, 2nd squad grabbed the glory again with a time of 8 minutes, 30 seconds.
Confident boasts from the squad as if they were unstoppable flowed from their panting mouths.
The trailing and tiring squads knew this next event had to be their turning point. The daunting task of pulling a 3-ton, up-armored Humvee across 100 meters of a paved parade field, around a cone, and back to the starting point left them with very little pledges of victory, however they weren’t about to think of caving in just yet.
They should have kept their mouths shut as 2nd platoon, 2nd squad practically demanded their names be etched on the first place plaque with a time of 2 minutes, 6 seconds.
“It was pretty hard initially until we hit the turn,” Pfc. Joshua Jones said while still trying to catch his breath. “Then we got some momentum, dug our heels in and gutted it out the last stretch. The adrenaline is still going and we have another competition.”
As the trash talking escalated there were equal cheers of support as the teams had to quickly select three Soldiers to reassemble an M4 carbine, M249 light machine gun and an M240B machine gun from a box where the individual parts had been mixed together. Fastest reassemble: 1 minute, 43 seconds. This time, 3rd platoon, 1st squad stole the spotlight, giving them something to celebrate.
The final stage pitted warrior strength versus warrior strength in a single elimination tug-of-war. The squads picked three of their toughest members to take the rope. In what resembled a gladiator’s arena the Alpha Company infantrymen surrounded the competitors and worked themselves into frenzy as 2nd platoon, 1st squad, took down all challengers and stood triumphant.
With 2nd platoon, 2nd squad the overall timed event champions and 2nd platoon, 1st squad, the victors of the team faceoff strength event the ISC was over as far as Castillo was concerned.
“I think they did an outstanding job,” said Castillo. “They’ve been working hard all day, they’re doing an outstanding job and the morale is still high.”
However, the trash talking wasn’t done. Some comments made during the day needed to be backed up so certain squads called each other out for a more personalized contest. Despite starting more than six hours ago there was still plenty of good-spirited ribbing going on.
First Sergeant Marc Little likes the trash talking. He believes the ISC is a morale builder because it’s designed to be enjoyable. It combines espirit de corps, team building and individual Soldier skills all rolled into a competition.
“It’s meant to be fun.”
The top squad didn’t walk away with a plaque or a trophy. There was no special award ceremony or extra time-off. The Soldiers didn’t receive a badge or a special patch.
“Obviously what they win is bragging rights,” said Little. “Bragging rights until we hold another Iron Squad Competition.” Trash talking till the end.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.15.2011 19:03 |
| Story ID: | 77110 |
| Location: | CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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