KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - 5th Quartermaster Company, 39th Transportation Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, maintained readiness via fun, team oriented events during Stilwell Week, which began August 3 at Rhine Ordnance Barracks.
"It's easy for everyone to just do an APFT," said 5th Quartermaster Company Commander Capt. James Arthur. "But to start, transition, and finish as a team is hard. You have to depend on each other."
The 5th Quartermaster Company Family Readiness Group served an American and German lunch Monday. Tuesday marked the first day of the Truck Rodeo, which consisted of an early start for an all-day event. Soldiers from the three truck companies competed on a Palletized Load System, Humvee, 915 Heavy Truck and 969 Wrecker for time to see who was the most technical and fastest Driver and Tactical Commander team.
"This event tests the Soldier's ability to excel under pressure" said Truck Rodeo NCOIC Sgt. 1st Class Vic Tapong, 5th Quartermaster Company.
The Rigger Rodeo ended with a G12 Parachute packing challenge, while the Truck Rodeo finished up with the Soldiers of the 515th Transportation Company.
The third day, which everyone was looking forward to, was Sports Day.
"It's a day where we can all come out and have fun," said Private 1st Class Dewayne Evans, 5th Quartermaster Company.
The 66th FRG provided lunch while the S6 shop played music. Teams played the third place games at the end of the day, and organizers scheduled the finals for Thursday the last day of the work week.
The final day of Stilwell week was the organization day and it started with 39th Transportation Battalion Commander Lt. Col Steven Dowgielewicz's surprise Army Physical Fitness Test with a twist: everyone had to finish with his or her teams. "This PT test is not like any ordinary PT test. It will all be done as a team, and everyone else in the battalion will cheer on their comrades," he said.
With five Soldiers per team, each member had to rotate through pushups in three minutes, sit-ups in three minutes and then start a two and a half mile relay run. Each unit completed their time in under thirteen minutes.
"That's absolutely incredible. We have some speed demons in this battalion," shouted the 39th Transportation Battalion Command Sgt. Maj. Jesse Harris.
Volleyball, soccer, softball, football, tug of war, and the chariot race rounded out the day. The chariot race originated several years ago as a friendly competition in which four members of each company, wearing the uniform of their choice, carries their commander.
The 635th Movement Control Team Soldiers cheered their commander, who sported his Spartan uniform and finished second.
Families enjoyed the barbecue, face painting, bounce house, and dunk tank, which was refreshing in the heat. The week ended with the presentation of the Rigger Rodeo, Truck Rodeo and Commander's Cup trophies.
Sgt. Waylon McGuire's 5th QM Rigger Rodeo team, 51st Transportation Company' Truck Rodeo team and 66th Transportation Company's Commander's Cup team were the big winners.
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