<B> FORT STEWART, Ga. </B>- Army Spouses got a taste of Soldier life and suited up for the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment's Combat Spouse Badge Competition at Fort Stewart's Holbrook Pond, Oct. 17.
Nearly 50 Family Members teamed up for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie as their Cottonbaler Soldiers ready to deploy with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.
"We wanted to give them a feel for what their Soldiers do, but with a fun twist to it," said Tonya Imus, 3/7 Inf. Regt. Family Readiness support assistant.
She said the battalion chose to implement recreational activities into the competition, such as paintball and skeet shooting, along with military training like orienteering, weapons identification and combat tactics.
"The events culminated with tug-of-war, a chance for the companies to earn bragging rights," she said.
Imus added that the 3/7 Inf. Regt. wanted to host the spouses' competition within close proximity to the 4th IBCT Expert Infantryman Badge competition - a weeklong test of basic infantry skills that many Cottonbaler Soldiers will be participating in next week.
Much like the EIB, the spouses also earned a badge after passing four of the six events.
Angela Everson competed last year in the 4th Brigade Combat Spouse Badge competition while her husband, Staff Sgt. Jesse Anderson was deployed to Iraq with Company A, 3/7 Inf. Regt. She said 3/7's competition was not as physically demanding and gave everyone an opportunity to participate.
"Even pregnant spouses could come out and enjoy (the event)," she said.
Captain Jason Dupuis, Headquarters and Headquarters Company , 3/7 Inf. Regt., said the event also helped to promote the battalion's robust Family Readiness Group.
"This was a good opportunity to build esprit de corps among the Family Members in each company," he said. "They can get to know each other while participating in the events which will help (unite them) before the upcoming deployment."
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