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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - One hundred soldiers, five miles of rough, wet terrain and 21 obstacles, all timed and graded in the spirit of being called the best.
These conditions set the stage for a grueling day of competition and camaraderie Jan. 27 for the Sapper Athlete Warrior competition, hosted by the 307th Engineer Battalion. Every soldier in attendance was motivated and had done extensive training in preparation for the competition.
Each 10-person team worked together, bonded by their shared experiences as they focused on their goal - the Atlas statue.
The coveted statue represents the strength and determination needed to shoulder the weight of mission success.
In addition to facing the obstacle course, each team had a simulated casualty with which to maneuver through the course.
At the start of each event, they decided the best avenue of approach for transporting the simulated casualty, allowing them to use and display their ingenuity.
"The SAW program is essentially mental toughness, physical fitness, mental agility, and nutrition and wellness then bringing it all together, creating the complete soldier." said 2nd Lt. Casey Williams a Howell, Mich. native and platoon leader for the 137th Sapper Company's second platoon.
The SAW program, which started in December 2011, highlights aspects of the engineer field of overcoming obstacles in real world scenarios and applying it to training and preparation.
"At the end of the day, it's not about who's the strongest, who's the fastest, it's about who's the most mentally tough," said Lt. Col. Brett G. Sylvia, the 307th Battalion commander.
And while only one team was awarded the trophy, each team showcased the strength and determination of the Army's sappers.
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2012 16:01 |
| Story ID: | 83309 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 114 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Engineer soldiers across Fort Bragg face challenges in first competition, by Joseph Nieves, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
