Soldiers from the 382nd Engineer Company, 365th Engineer Battalion,
411th Engineer Brigade of the 412th Theater Engineer Command from
Harrisburg, Pa., received the distinct honor of being titled the
first-ever Army Reserve Best Sapper Team here, May 8.
The competition was hosted by the 412th and 416th Theater Engineer
Commands, who account for all Army Reserve engineer assets and support
units of more than 26,000 Soldiers, including all Reserve Sapper teams.
The two theater engineer commands collaborated to provide a unique
competition for this unique type of Soldier.
"It feels pretty good, to come out here and actually win the whole
thing, it's just great," said Spc. Dennis Kianka, a Peque, Pa., native,
and member of the 382nd team.
Team leader for the 382nd competitors, Staff Sgt. Chad Thomas, a native
of Newtown, Conn., was thrilled to finish with the new title, but more
impressed at the performance of his team in their efforts at the
competition. He attributes their victory here to their close-knit team
spirit and drive.
"We're not the best; we're just the most well-rounded. We just did
better than the other teams here," said Thomas. "To have [an officer]
here come up to me and say we were 'the ones that stuck with it as a
team,' that to me, as a leader, is gratifying."
Two other Sapper teams were honored for placing in the top three teams of the inaugural Reserve Sapper Stakes.
Soldiers of the 469th Engineering Company from the 372nd Engineer
Brigade, 416th Theater Engineer Command, from Dodgeville, claimed second
place in the contest, only a few points shy of the 382nd Engineer
Company.
The Wausau Sapper team from the 428th Engineer Company, 372nd Engineer
Brigade, 416th Theater Engineer Command, claimed the honor of third
place for the overall competition.
Sappers are highly-trained combat engineers that specialize in the
forward support of infantry units conducting reconnaissance of bridges
and roads; mine detection and clearing operations; bridge, road and
airfield construction and the use of explosives to aid allied units and
impeded enemy forces. Often working with, or ahead of infantry on the
front lines, there are a variety of physical and mental demands, which
were integrated as part of the competition.
Teamwork was essential to winning the events, and despite Thomas'
modesty, he does relent that their camaraderie propelled them to first.
"We were all able to work together to get where we needed to be," said
Thomas. "We made a list of what we thought were going to be critical
tasks for our team to execute so we could just get those points where we
could. After that, I just told these guys to go out and 'you do you and
we'll be fine.'"
Sappers are known for their ability to perform as a team in a tough and
unforgiving environment, which is why the 382nd Soldiers fared so well
in their bid for the title.
"All of these lanes are designed for a six-man team. They are graded on a
team scale," Capt. Shawn Gilbert, battle captain for the competition.
"So, if you have one Soldier that is best warrior, or runner-up, of the
year, if he has five guys that he's trying to carry, then it's not going
to work, because you get one score for your team. So, you have to work
as a team."
The competition consisted of a series of combat engineer tasks with each
team competing against 14 other teams from across the country vying for
the title. Teams were graded on their ability to conduct the tasks to
standard, in the shortest time possible.
The events included two demolition challenges that tested the teams'
knowledge of conducting controlled blasts; bridge reconnaissance; land
navigation; approach and clear a house in an urban environment; detect
and clear mines; emplace 30-meters of barbed wire; a ruck march of more
than 10 miles; and various other stations.
The two theater engineer commands look forward to future competitions
among these combat engineers because, while Soldier teams are competing
against each other, they are also pushing themselves to learn more.
"I think this is really neat," said Maj. Gen. William Buckler Jr.,
commander of the 412th Theater Engineer Command. "In the end, not only
did we train all of you ... what you learned is that everyone on the
left and right of you has that training ... just by competing, all of
you are better trained, which makes you better trainers."
The competitors echo that sentiment and look forward to boning up their
skills to return next year, better trained and better ready to excel at
the contest.
"Honestly, it just makes me want to come back next year," said Spc.
Preston VanAllen, with the 382nd Engineer Company. "It just makes me
more excited for the future."
The two theater engineer commands plan on conducting this competition
annually to ensure these Soldiers keep pushing themselves to learn more
and be better trained, and to become trainers for their units.
http://www.army.mil/article/125886/Army_Reserve_crowns_first_ever_Best_Sapper_Team/
Retrieved on 15 May 2014
Written by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Fowler
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