FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers from the Hammer Battalion lined up March 19 to draw weapons for the beginning of Operation Iron Hammer, the culminating exercise of the three-day resiliency focused event. As the first company entered the start point for the first event it was a mere 7 degrees, and the battalion chaplain's motto echoed in their minds: "Think like a champion, train like a champion, believe like a champion."
The 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team executed its quarterly resiliency training March 17-19, focusing on developing skills that Soldiers and Families will need to meet challenges in the coming months.
"We have great resources and ways to enhance resiliency, from spouse (master resiliency trainers), to our chaplain, who takes an active role in our resiliency program," said Lt. Col. James M. DePolo, battalion commander. "We also rely heavily on physically and mentally challenging events to increase individual resiliency and teambuilding. Sgt. 1st Class Peter Barkley and 1st Lt. John White (both Sappers assigned to the staff operations section) really did a great job in putting together a tough event."
The Soldiers began their training March 17 at the platoon level to encourage candid discussion while master resiliency trainers, or MRTs, and leaders guided Soldiers through vignettes and resiliency skills training.
"Discussion within the team was a good way to flesh out some thoughts using new tools. Being nervous is OK, being down is OK, but staying in those states of minds is detrimental to performance," said Chaplain (Capt.) Younsoo Park, battalion chaplain. "We need to look at the bigger picture and see that inside we all can be champions; it just takes training."
On March 18, Soldiers and their spouses attended family resiliency seminars. Led by a team made up of 1st BCT spouse MRTs, the Warrior Brigade military family life consultant, senior spouse guest speakers and the chaplain, the venue focused on predeployment considerations and relationship building.
Melissa Behnkendorf, wife of Master Sgt. Michael Behnkendorf, presented her perspective on resiliency that she acquired during her years serving as both a Soldier and a military spouse, which resounded with both Soldiers and their spouses.
Second Lt. Ronald Medders, a newly assigned officer, and his wife Catherine remarked that the training was a good thing. "It will help us overcome some of the obstacles we expect to encounter and provide coping tools before we need them. Using the workbook and scenarios presented provided us the tools that will strengthen our relationship."
The training targeted newly married couples, young couples and leaders.
"Resiliency means that even through the hard times, you can always work out a positive result," said Sgt. Eric Devine, a Sapper assigned to B Company. "We just need to be there and be supportive during the process. Knowing maybe one or two of these skills to help resilience will help my wife and me to maintain a healthy relationship, and today taught us just a few ways we can do that."
The final day tested more than 500 Soldiers, moving in seven company formations, in a grueling, all-day physical and tactical event that began with a three-mile company formation run with rifles. Soldiers quickly transitioned, adding their advanced combat helmets, load carriers and ruck sacks, and then moved out along a 9.5- mile route.
Along the route, companies encountered stations that required them to perform various tasks, including a humvee push; a litter carry; negotiate natural and manmade obstacles; transport wire, pickets and training mines; conduct written tactics test and a land navigation test, and finally conduct an equipment layout inspection. All events were scored and time penalties were assessed for shortcomings. The event culminated with a stress shoot at Range 7, where Soldiers had to drag sleds and do physical fitness events between engaging targets with their M-4s.
In the end, the 630th Clearance Company stood out as the winning company and earned a three-day weekend.
Spc. Allan Meade, a Sapper assigned to the 630th Clearance Company, earned an Army Achievement Medal for his "Mountain Toughness" during the event.
"We definitely had to 'hunt the good stuff,'" Meade said. "There were Soldiers with hurt feet, kneecaps and ankles, but we pulled together to develop a strategy to overcome any obstacle.
"One event involved moving concertina wire, pickets, mines and barbed wire over one kilometer as quickly as possible," he continued. "We were forced to rapidly develop a solution to moving some heavy equipment without any aids. The team really gutted it out to make it happen. It was a big morale booster. The march got the blood pumping as we competed to be No. 1 in the battalion."
The Soldiers may have been tired and endured physical pain, but they were able to find their inner champion to rise to the challenges, and they will be well-prepared for whatever comes their way next.
Spouse MRTs, volunteer senior spouse guest speakers and the brigade military family life counselor enhanced the Hammer Resiliency Week at the North Riva Ridge Chapel on March 18.
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