FORT STEWART, Ga. - Mechanics of 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division participated in a best mechanic competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 8 - 9.
The best mechanic competition is held every year by 703rd BSB to recognize the brigade's best mechanic. This event also gives Soldiers an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop themselves with new training.
"It's an event to bring out all the 91-series Soldiers to allow them to test and validate their skill set against other mechanics," said Capt. Russell Higgins, deputy support operations officer of 703rd BSB.
Army mechanics are part of the 91-series of field mechanical maintenance military occupational specialties (MOS).
"The goal is to show esprit de corps and to compete between low-density military occupation specialties," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dwayne Gartrell, senior ordinance ground maintenance warrant officer for 2nd IBCT. "It encompasses a variety of automotive, Soldier skills and general military knowledge in their subject areas."
Assembling and disassembling weapons challenged Soldiers to succeed beyond their primary MOS by remembering basic Soldier skills taught at the beginning of Army careers.
"The biggest challenge were the weapons," said Spc. Emmanuel Davila, a 703rd BSB wheeled-vehicle mechanic attached to 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT and winner of the competition. "I don't have a lot of experience with a [.50-caliber machine gun], but I learned a lot. It was the first time I've seen this weapon disassembled."
Soldiers have different opinions about what it means to be the best mechanic.
"It's a great feeling to have, to be able to represent my company, to stand out from my peers," said Spc. Nicardo Whyte a 703rd BSB wheeled-vehicle mechanic attached to Company G, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT.
"It's more motivation to continue to evolve in my job, and challenge me to be better every year," Davila said.
"To me it shows that someone has done the work. They put in the time and the effort," Gartrell said. "They are not necessarily at the mastery level, but able to be well-rounded, diverse in many subject areas. To me it is it's a sense of pride you show."
Soldiers are encouraged to confidently compete in this event and display their skills.
"I grew up in a generation where it was 'be all that you can be,'" Gartrell said. "So, why would you sell yourself short? Don't be bashful, don't be afraid, come out and test your skills and knowledge and compete. Be all that you can be in this organization."
"I think events like this continue to build a positive maintenance culture in the brigade," Higgins said. "We need to continue to foster that."
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