Sledgehammer soldiers prepare for the Sullivan Cup

Photo By Sgt. Erik Anderson | Pfc. Dylan Robertson, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, looks over the wheel and track assembly on his M1A2 Abrams tank. Robertson, a native of Kansas City, Mo., and his fellow crew members have been preparing to compete in the first Sullivan Cup to be held at the Maneuver Center of Excellence.  

FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES

05.03.2012

Story by Spc. Erik Anderson 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Fifteen teams from across the Army will descend on Fort Benning, Ga., May 7, to compete in the Maneuver Center of Excellence’s first Sullivan Cup competition.

For one of the teams, the competition is a chance to play on their home court.

One four-man M1A2 Abrams tank crew represents the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Benning.

“I think we’ll do well, this is our home turf,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Swalley, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd HBCT, the tank commander for the crew. “It’s great to be a part of the first Sullivan Cup at Benning.”

But the crew isn’t counting on their home court advantage.

“We’re doing more physical training and practicing the track challenges,” said Pfc. Milan Savich, Company D, the loader for the crew. “We’re just getting mentally and physically prepared.”

Being prepared is key for the competition, which will test each crew’s fitness, flexibility, and ability to put steel on targets downrange.

“I get to do what I signed up to do,” said Sgt. William Friengle, Company D, the crew’s gunner. “We competed to be on this crew, and we qualified as top gun across the brigade. Now we get to compete against the best in the Army.”

Although the crew plans to bring home top honors to Kelley Hill, they understand what being sent to the competition means.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this team,” said Pfc. Dylan Robertson, Company C, 2-69 Armor, the crew’s driver. “It’s an honor to be recognized as an expert in our field.”

• Date Taken: 05.03.2012
• Date Posted: 05.03.2012 15:01
• Story ID: 87819
• Location: FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, US