FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Some 30 field artillery lieutenants (13As) assigned to 2nd Bri-gade Combat Team, "Commando," competed in the inaugural 1st Lt. Lee R. Hartell Best 13A competition Feb. 19-20 on Fort Drum.
The competition, hosted by 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, assessed the young officers' physical fitness, artillery platoon leader operations, fire direction and fire support capabilities --keystone fundamentals of an artillery officer.
"We want to increase the base line of artillery officer skills across the 'Commando' Brigade with this competition and test each of you on the four fundamentals required of an artillery officer," said Lt. Col. Christopher W. Wendland, 2-15 FA commander, during his opening remarks.
With the opening remarks complete, the physical fitness test began.
Each officer rotated through a variety of exercises (pull-ups, two-count lunges, burpees, tire flips and Jacob's ladder).
They were given only two minutes at each station to complete as many correct repetitions as possible.
Exhausted, yet exuberant, they moved forward, completing the platoon leader exam, fire direction station and fire support assessment.
These events tested individual abilities on surveying techniques for Howitzer emplacement, sling loading operations, fire mission processing, calculating firing data, accurately calling for fire, planning targets using the M119A2 Howitzer and calling for fire.
"So far it's a pretty humbling experience; when you are a platoon leader for a long time, you lose some of those skills that were taught in the school house," said 1st Lt. Bradley Johns-Parson, platoon leader, A Battery, 2-15 FA. "This is a good event for us to focus on our overall jobs that we could have at any point."
Day two featured a culminating team-building exercise in which competitors broke into eight-man teams and pulled a 4,500-plus-pound M119A2 howitzer approximately 2.15 miles.
Each of the officers was graded on their individual performances throughout the two-day event, with the top three scores being recognized during an awards ceremony Feb. 21 on Fort Drum.
Earning the distinguished title of "Best 13A" was 1st Lt. Jonathan Conway, fire support officer, B Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Placing second in the competition was 2nd Lt. Will Clark, fire support officer, 2-15 FA, and placing third was 1st Lt. David Nixon, field artillery officer, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.
Despite the rankings, all of the lieutenants gave a solid effort and identified goals for future development.
The competition was named in honor of 1st Lt. Lee R. Hartell, A Battery, 15th Field Artillery, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean Conflict.
For the complete citation of Hartell's actions that earned him the Medal of Honor, visit http:// war-memorial.org/pages/monfi. htm.
Popko serves as operations officer for 2-15 FA.
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