Sgt. Noah Van Wechel, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion motor transport operator, negotiates an obstacle in the combat confidence course, part of the best logistician competition Aug. 6-8 here. Forty Soldiers maki...

Pvt. Jordan Anderson, B Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion automated logistical specialist, low crawls during the combat confidence course, part of the best logistician competition Aug. 6-8 here. Soldiers who gathered the most points and finish...

Pvt. Aaron Ranew, A Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion ammunition specialist, crosses a rope bridge during the combat confidence course, part of the best logistician competition Aug. 6-8 at Fort Sill. The competition challenged logistics Soldie...

Soldiers of the 168th Brigade Support Battalion work sling load operations with a Black Hawk helicopter aircrew, one of the events of the best logistics competition Aug. 6-8 at Fort Sill. This competition challenged the logistics Soldiers in areas ma...

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Logistic support teams from Fort Sill competed in the 168th Brigade Support Battalion's annual best logistician competition Aug. 6-8.

Forty Soldiers making up 12 teams battled it out. The competition started with individual challenges. The logistics specialists then teamed up and competed together.

The events were the Army Physical Fitness Test, truck and forklift rodeo, recovery lane, ammunition operations, short range marksmanship, radio communications, fuel operations, maintenance operations, combat confidence course, medical aid and sling load operations. The competition finished up with an eight-mile ruck march.

For those teams that met their goal and finished with the most points and best times in the various mental and physical challenges, each received plaques and something even better.

Bragging rights

The competition is similar to the Best Ranger competition. This event tested the skills of all logistic specific military occupation specialties across the installation to determine the best section and individuals within the unit. The competition recognized the installation's best company, section and individual and also increased unit cohesion, and Soldiers' tactical and technical skills.

Competitors did everything from shooting their weapon to problem solving. Usually the work these Soldiers do food, water and repair services is taken for granted. The competition challenged the Soldiers but also revealed some light on the behind-the-scenes work these Soldiers do.

For example, consider this logistical problem: You are in the field, it has been raining for a couple days and your massive military vehicle gets stuck in the mud. It is actually quite common, and it is these logisticians who come to the rescue.

"I enjoyed the best logistics competition because it has to deal with training and military occupation specialties I do not do on a daily basis," said Pvt. Jordan Anderson, an automated logistical specialist, assigned to B Company, 168th Brigade Support Battalion. "The competition enabled me to see what I can do. I pushed myself to complete every event."

On Day 2 of the competition, Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Aaron, 214th Fires Brigade CSM, gave Anderson his first military coin for the outstanding job he has done within the 168th BSB.

"I try to do my best at everything and excel at it," said Anderson. "I also try to volunteer for everything and work hard in my ."

Anderson said he intends to compete next year if he is still at Fort Sill.

The competition is long, both mentally and physically draining and as luck would have it, also hot. The Soldiers slept in inflatable tents deep on post but for them, the competition was all a game.

"I have never touched a forklift and I did really well in that event; I may not have been the best, but it was good for me conceding I have never done it before," said Pvt. Aaron Ranew, an ammunition specialist with A Company, 168th BSB. "The competition allowed me to gain knowledge on things I would normally not do in my MOS."

Ranew said the events were a good test and he was glad he participated. Just like Anderson, he intends to compete again next year.

Individual winners

Army Physical Fitness Test: Cadet Cody Hartman, score 345 on the extended scale.

Short range marksmanship: Pvt. Aaron Ranew, A/168th BSB.

Combat confidence course: Spc. Austin Parton, A Company, 100th Brigade Support Battalion.

Team winners

Truck and sling-load operations: Sgt. William Hagg, Spc. Daniel Sapian, Spc. Alexey Verbitsky and Pvt. Dennis Martinez from the 696th Forward Support Company.

Forklift operations: Sgt. Noah Van Wechel, Spcs. Marcus Wilson and Joseph Dees, and Pvt. Martina Franklin, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 168th BSB.

Radio communications: Staff Sgts. Shaun Goodwin and Loretta Gonsales, Spc. Tanner O'Neal and Pvt. Micah Massey, HHC, 168th BSB.

Ammunition operations: Sgts. Shauna Joseph, Charlie Dong and Christopher Hughes; and Spc. Denisor Brimacomb, A/100th BSB.

Maintenance operations: Staff Sgt. Jody Staggs, Cadet Cody Hartman and Spc. Dion Fletcher, A/168th BSB.

Fuel operations: Staff Sgt. Josh Blose, Cadet Amanda Wheat, Spc. Rodney Clanton, Pvt. Keith Soreghen, A/168th BSB.

Medical operations: Staff Sgt. Josh Blose, Cadet Amanda Wheat, Spc. Rodney Clanton and Pvt. Keith Soreghen, A/168th BSB.

Recovery operations: Sgt. Rueben Velasquez, Spc. Christopher Moss and Pvts. Aaron Ranew and Glenn Evans, A/168th BSB.

A/168th BSB also earned the best overall team award.