TORII STATION, Japan - Snake Eyes soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-1 ADA) ran, tugged, flipped, and paddled in fierce competition during the battalion's organizational day.
The event took place Aug. 9 at Torii Beach on Torii Station, Okinawa, Japan. Soldiers and family members endured heat and humidity while taking a well-deserved break from their daily activities.
United Services Organization volunteers started the day by treating those in attendance to fresh pancakes.
As USO volunteer Maribel Paulino put it, "We bring the party to the soldiers!"
Soldiers then stood proudly in formation en masse while battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Mike Maynard received the accountability report.
Shortly after that, the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Ben Ogden, addressed the formation, doing his best to stoke the fires of rivalry and friendly competition among the six battery (company)-sized units present.
The competition began with a Romanesque chariot race, where teams of soldiers instead of horses raced laps around cones, each pulling a charioteer in a homemade chariot.
The race results were posted at the command post.
Afterward, various contests ensued to determine which unit would have bragging rights for the next twelve months, and would end the organizational day on cleanup crew.
Soldiers tested their individual and collective mettle in events such as the tire-flip, volleyball, kayaking, flag football, and ultimate Frisbee.
The annual tug of war was the culminating event of the day in which units dug deep into the sand and into their hearts to determine which unit was the toughest present.
Organizational day was a chance for soldiers to take some down time.
"The soldiers go hard. Organizational day is an opportunity for them to relax," said Ogden.
He also thought it was important for soldiers to take a break and enjoy this unique assignment.
Resiliency is "a delicate balance [between work and play] in order to stay ready for the mission," explained Ogden.
The Snake Eyes Battalion remains vigilant daily to defend critical assets against air and missile threats.
Command Sgt. Maj. Maynard commented, "The individual/team competitive spirit that exists in crew certifications, combatives [training] and quarter boards was demonstrated today in our Organizational Day."
He then added, "Soldiers don't get excited to come to work to be mediocre, they come to work and give 100 percent effort to be the best. I saw effort and teamwork and cheering for exceptional performance and for exceeding standards/expectations. But you know, I see Snake Eyes soldiers doing that on a daily basis."
Throughout the morning, the Snake Eyes food service professionals kept the grill fires hot to serve a great assortment of steaks, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers for lunch.
A receding tide that revealed numerous crabs and other sea creatures as well as postcard beauty from above only added to the day.
In the end, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery edged Delta for top unit overall.
Everyone, however, was able to leave the field of competition with a renewed sense of camaraderie and balance as they returned the following week prepared to defend the skies above Okinawa.
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