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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Dec 3, 2008 - 11:51:18 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Spc. Jessica Medina of Company E, Headquarters Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment rushes during the react to direct fire event. (Photo by Maj. Enrique T. Vasquez) |
TIKRIT, Iraq - On Sept. 19, the Multi-National Division-North Warrior Competition at Contingency Operating Base Speicher drew to a close. Within a field of 54 competitors Spc. Gavin Mackenzie, a supply specialist with 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment tied for third in the Soldier category.
The event featured significant changes from years past to better reflect the Army's current state of training and its war on terror mission.
According to Sgt. Maj. Allen Ashton, the 1st Armored Division tactical operations sergeant major, the competition places a heavy emphasis on "the smaller building blocks that the individuals and the Soldiers use for providing the tactical security and operational security for the units operating in MND-North."
The MND-N Warrior Competition brought together warriors from the ranks of private to staff sergeant who have excelled and proven themselves through company and battalion levels.
The Soldiers faced a selection board chaired by Sgt. Maj. Darryl M. Jannone, the 1AD provost marshal sergeant major. The rest of the Board was comprised of sergeants major from throughout Task Force Iron. They evaluated each warrior's appearance, military bearing and knowledge in key military areas.
This year's event consisted of several traditional events - the army physical fitness test, and weapons qualification range among many - but it adds new twists onto others.
In addition to standard first-aid exercises, Soldiers had to test their proficiency in obtaining a saline lock on an intravenous drip - a common task that is learned in the Combat Life Saver Course, which only became a part of basic combat training in 2007.
Every effort was made to give the Warrior Task Training stations maximum realism, said Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Operations sergeant major Tonia Walker.
Audio clips from movies like "Black Hawk Down" were played at some stations, and multiple events were often combined into one station to increase the stress involved in completing the tasks. At the "treat severed extremity" station, the Soldiers evaluated the casualty, treated the severed limb for bleeding, and then ran the saline lock on the IV. Other events were geared toward physically pushing Soldiers to their limits. The week long competition featured an APFT, a six kilometer run in full combat gear with ammunition - on the same day.
"We had a PT test at 4 a.m., and then right behind that we have a 6k combat run with full battle rattle… it's kind of a gut check, it lets you find who you really are. We all think we're tough, we all think we're the best Soldier, but when the rubber meets the road, you find out firsthand whether you're as tough as you imagine yourself. It's a good thing. You're going to come out of it better and stronger," said Sgt. Anthony Dozart, who represented the 1st Squadron, 6th Calvary Regiment at the competition.
One aspect of the MND-N Warrior Competition that distinguished it from similar competitions is that it takes place in a deployed environment. With the Soldiers and NCOs studying for it already shouldering a heavy workload, preparation for the competition is even more challenging than it normally would be.
"I found out I was going to be in this competition six months ago, and even then I rushed to prepare. To prepare, we did physical training everyday, and we studied with our NCOIC whenever we had downtime. It's a tough competition. It's a lot to prepare for," said Sgt. Marvin Terlaje.
One possibly unexpected benefit of the warrior competition is the positive stress it puts on units to keep their training rigorous. "The main way these competitions pay off is to give us a chance to evaluate our Soldiers, see where they're at on training, and go back and step up our training. I also enjoy just being here for the Soldiers, helping them out, motivating them in any way I can," said Staff Sgt. David Miller, a sponsor in the competition assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment.
More important than winning, Terlaje and Dozart both agree, is the sense of camaraderie developed during the competition, and the feeling that they are more of a team than a group of individual competitors. "What happens at the warrior competition is you get the cream of the crop, you get the people who are best at what they do, and we all get together and share stories and experiences," said Terlaje, "I think it's a good opportunity. It's a chance to foster camaraderie through the spirit of competition."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Sgt. Matthew Wolberg, Co. B, 601st Aviation Support Battalion, puts zip cuffs on a detainee after searching him while Sgt. Francis Aque, 101st AB DIV grades him. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth) |
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| Spc. Gavin McKenzie, Co. E, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, plots out a route on a map to prepare for the land navigation station. (Photo by Maj. Enrique T. Vasquez) |
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