Photo By Staff Sgt. Ruth Harvie | Pfc. Carlton Joyner with the 191st CSSB battles it out with his opponent, Staff Sgt....... read more read more
U.S. Army story by Sgt. Ruth Harvie
MARYSVILLE, Wash. - The soldiers never expected a Chinook to actually show up. Spc. Michael L. Rinehart, with the 889th Quartermaster Company, called in a nine-line medevac request as part of an event for the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command’s Best Warrior Competition, and to his surprise, air support arrived at the requested location within a few minutes.
“When they handed us earplugs, that’s when I knew a Chinook was actually coming,” said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Thorstad, with the 654th Regional Support Group, who was one of the seven competitors.
The Chinook was part of a scenario where warriors had to react to a “civilian on the battlefield.” They came across a civilian being aggressed by another civilian and put their soldier skills to the test, specifically taking first-aid measures and calling in a nine-line medevac request. The request is used when an injury on the battlefield requires immediate medical attention. “We actually medevaced the casualty,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Alexander with the 96th Headquarters Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion.
“We do the radio practice all the time,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Vicki Briggs with the 364th ESC. “Most of the time when we do it, the instructor tells the soldiers what they did right and wrong, and nothing happens from there.”
The soldiers weren’t expecting a real helicopter to fly in at that point, said Briggs.
The four-day competition started on April 12, 2012, and was hosted by the 364th ESC at the Marysville Armed Forces Reserve Center in Marysville, Wash.
In addition to the live scenario, the competition included weapons qualification, the Army Physical Fitness Test, an essay and appearance board, land navigation, a five-mile road march, and a combatives tournament.
Alexander won the non-commissioned officer division and Pfc. Carlton Joyner won the soldier division. Alexander and Joyner are slated to compete in the 79th Sustainment Command’s Best Warrior Competition at Fort Hunter Liggett, California from April 22-27.
The non-commissioned officer division included Alexander, Thorstad, Sgt. Lawrence C. Fenstermacher with the 654th RSG, and Sgt. 1st Class Jessica D. Lam with the 364th ESC, who was the runner-up.
The soldier division included Joyner and Rinehart.
“I think it takes an all around soldier [to be the Best Warrior],” said Lam. You have to be physically fit, mentally prepared, and you have to apply all your knowledge.”
The Best Warrior Competition is very challenging, said Lam. “Everybody walks away having gained knowledge and experience,” she said.
Physical Fitness, solid knowledge of basic military subjects, and determination are key to winning, said Briggs.
“Everyone of them want to win and as far as they’re concerned ⎯
they will win,” said Briggs. “To a degree, they already have.”
“I’m very proud of them,” she said
| Date Taken: | 04.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2012 10:39 |
| Story ID: | 86869 |
| Location: | ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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