FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The XVIII Airborne Corps commander and staff visited Fort Drum for a morning of physical activities and briefings, and a luncheon on Feb. 29.
The morning started with cross-country skiing from the Boy Scout Camp to Range 7. Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, XVIII Airborne Corps, commander, was greeted by Maj. Gen. Mark A. Milley, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, as well as Fort Drum garrison and division staff.
The group grabbed their cross-country poles and skis and began the route.
Along the path to the range, the group went up and down the snow- and ice-covered hills, passed between trees, and ended the first event with different exercises.
"This is a good experience for all Soldiers to do," Helmick said. "The course they have laid out for us will bring us back to the days of old."
The group began down the hill to the range where cadre from the installation's Light Fighters School briefed them on their next mission -- shooting a mechanical zeroed M-4 rifle at targets on the range.
"The purpose behind shooting a mechanical zeroed weapon for this competition was so they would be shooting on an even playing field between themselves," said Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Brott, mountain leader advanced rifle marksmanship noncommissioned officer in charge for the Light Fighters School on Fort Drum. "Everything went very smoothly, from setup to execution."
Once the senior leaders were finished firing, the cadre tallied up the points with Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Howard, the command sergeant major for the XVIII Airborne Corps, taking the top marksman, with Helmick taking a close second.
Afterwards, the group met at the 10th Mountain Division headquarters to recognize by giving the XVIII Airborne Corps commanders coins to Soldiers from the different brigades of the division, which included eight Soldiers from Fort Drum and one from 4th Brigade Combat Team at Fort Polk, La., via video conference during the ceremony.
"I am very proud of these Soldiers," Helmick said. "I would also like to thank them for their hard work for the 10th Mountain Division and the Army."
The day concluded with briefings and a luncheon before the corps staff departed Fort Drum.
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