FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Nine U.S. Army Alaska military police officers were physically and mentally put to the test Aug. 6 and 7 at Fort Richardson during tryouts for the Warrior Police Challenge.
MPs from throughout the Army will converge on Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Sept. 15 through Sept. 17 to compete for 72 hours straight in the challenge, and USARAK Soldiers will be competing right alongside them.
The three primary Soldiers selected to compete at Fort Leonard Wood are Staff Sgt. Paul Ramos, 472nd Military Police Company; Spc. Joshua Terry, 164th Military Police Company; and Pfc. Joshua Furbeck, 472nd MP Co.
The three secondary competitors, who will participate in the event if the primary Soldiers are unable to compete, are Spc. James Teare Jr., 164th MP Co.; Spc. Anthony Cabassa, 164th MP Co; and Pfc. Alexander Cole, 164th MP Co. Although the USARAK competitors participated in events such as a physical training test, an obstacle course, applying first aid, a ruck march, canoeing, weapons assembly and a written test, Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Wilson, Arctic Military Police Battalion operations NCO, said no one can be sure what the Soldiers will face at Fort Leonard Wood. "
The events are different each year, consisting of different PT tests, confidence courses, obstacle courses, responding to downed aircraft - anything these guys can think of," Wilson said.
"We don't know what to train on, really. We just try to hit a little bit of everything." The tryouts at Fort Richardson began at 8 p.m. Aug. 6 and didn't conclude until the early morning of Aug. 7, which Wilson said was meant to prepare the Soldiers for how taxing the competition will be at Fort Leonard Wood.
"I knew the Soldiers were going to be tired," he said. "They're not used to staying up all night doing a lot of physical training like this. Down there, it's three days of nonstop completion in 72 hours."
Wilson said he is confident in the Soldiers selected to represent USARAK at the Fort Leonard Wood competition. "I think we're going to have a pretty good shot of at least making the top five," he said.
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