GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (22 October 2015) -- For three days and two nights of intense mental and physical challenges, 17 squads from 13 nations compete in the European Best Squad Competition held at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command (JMTC), here, for the first time in over a decade.
The competition tests each squad's mental and physical determination through unique events such as tactical shooting, rock wall climbing, boat crossing and many more.
Lance Cpl. Shaun Gee, a reconnaissance team-member from the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Reconnaissance Platoon, is participating in the European Best Squad Competition. Gee is no stranger to competition and has competed in the Cambrian, a highly renown and multinational competition held in the Black Mountains of Wales. The Cambrian a grueling two-day foot patrol filled with obstacles and opposing forces.
"The Cambrian is a very tactical patrol and this (Best Squad Competition) is completely different," said Gee. "The Cambrian is against an enemy sort of thing whereas this competition, it's from stand to stand."
Throughout the day, each nine-man squad must complete various events at different stations for a recorded time. One event consists of having to push a water buffalo down an open field, roll an enormous tire, carry jugs of water, low crawl under barbed wire with the jugs of water, then lift and carry a 155 mm artillery training round back down the field; all one after the other before moving onto the next station.
"The biggest difference is that it's totally random, it's totally different," said Gee. "They can throw anything at you: assault courses, casualties. I personally think this is more fun to compete in."
Each event in the European Best Squad Competition is crafted to ensure that a squad's success is determined not by might alone, but by achieving mutual solidarity and a fighting team spirit.
"It's about team work with this," said Gee.
Whether carrying wooden logs or standing guard throughout the night, each squad is able to build upon their teamwork and create strong relations with NATO allies through healthy competition.
"Sometimes, I think the biggest problem we have to face is being able to understand and work with our international counterparts and basically build cohesion as a team," said Sgt. 1st Class Alex Thomas II, bed-down non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) for the JMTC exercise campsite.
"(In) these little competitions, they see each other struggling," said Thomas. "Sometimes they might say something as little as 'good luck' to asking 'hey, how are you guys doing?' Just building that cohesion is probably one of the biggest benefits these guys are gonna get from the training."
Pfc. Arthur Jacobs, an infantryman from the Third Group in the Netherlands Army also finds the ability to interact with soldiers from different nations to be enjoyable and beneficial in training.
"With a lot of guys, we talked about a lot of things," said Jacobs. "From pensions to equipment, to everything. It was fun to see a lot of other units from other countries. To see their gear, see how they do stuff, that's real interesting."
This year's competition drew in 17 squads from 13 NATO allies, including Albania, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Social Sharing