SANDSTON (Feb. 5, 2014) -- A team of 14 active duty and Reserve Soldiers from Fort Lee topped their opponents to win the inaugural Richmond LogistXGames held Jan. 29 near Richmond International Airport.
The networking and recreational competition, held in a large Eastport Boulevard industrial park warehouse, emphasized the speed and efficiency required in a warehouse/storage working environment. It featured such events as a pallet puzzle sprint, pallet jack relay, pick/pack hurdle and box put.
Team Army's win included a victory in the box put.
"It was a great win," said team organizer Lt. Col. Nick Nordan, deputy chief of staff, G-7, 94th Training Division (Force Sustainment), a U.S. Army Reserve unit based here. "By the way the team executed, it was apparent these individuals had no problem performing under pressure."
All but one of the events were timed and based on accuracy. In the pick/pack hurdle, for example, a three-person team was required to correctly place package labels on boxes then sprint to specified shelves that varied in distance from 10 feet away to 30 yards. The Army's team's second-place finish in that event was an example of its quick thinking, said Nordan.
"Their experience and training was key," he said, noting team members progressively figured out how to best perform each task. "We didn't tell them how to accomplish the events, but they strategized and worked it out. I was impressed."
The team's showing in the first event was not impressive, but members made the necessary adjustments, said Capt. Scott Fisher, the officer in charge.
"We did very well in the final three events," he said, noting they logged a third, second and first place finish, "so I think many of us felt it was possible to place at least third. We were all stunned and elated to take first place."
Eight teams from the greater Richmond logistics community were entered into the event. It allowed Fort Lee military to connect with civilian logisticians, but it was also a lot of fun, said Nordan.
"Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely," he said.
Fort Lee, the only government entry, formed its team only two days prior to the event. A mix of officers and noncommissioned officers from the Army Logistics University, Combined Arms Support Command and the 94th Training Div., the team's performance supported the notion the Army is "well-trained at all levels," said 2nd Lt. Brydon Albers.
"Every member of the team showed the ability to lead and also the ability to take direction and execute," said the ALU student. "This was an excellent demonstration of how the Logistics Corp, and the Army as a whole, is a system of interchangeable parts."
The LogistXGames were first held in Louisville, Ky., eight years ago to promote a "healthy competition between prominent companies who are involved in the movement of goods between source and consumer."
Fort Lee is home to the Sustainment Center of Excellence and has billed itself as the Army's "Home of Logistics."
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