Sgt. Troy Hill (right), Spc. Raymon Najera (center) and Pfc. Kyle Narveson (left), all infantrymen assigned to, K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, run down a muddy road during the two-mile ruck march portion of a ruck and stress shoot compe...
A Polish soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, embodies the spirit of friendly competition as he gives the thumbs-up sign while running down a muddy road with his battle buddies during the two-mile ruck march portion of a ruck a...
Spc. Mason Propst, an infantryman assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, runs down a muddy road during the two-mile ruck march portion of a ruck and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Konotop, Pol...
A Polish soldier of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, coaches his squad designated marksman as he aims at a 400-meter target during the during the stress shoot portion of a ruck march and stress shoot competition between American Polish par...
Spc. Mason Propst, an infantryman assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires at his target from a standing position during the stress shoot portion of a ruck march and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan...
A Polish soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, grimaces as he runs the homestretch of a two-mile ruck march during a ruck and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Konotop, Poland. Ten teams each...
Spc. Steven Bright (front) and Pfc. Shimieh Hazel (rear), both infantryman assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, run down the homestretch of a two-mile ruck march during a ruck and stress shoot competition between American Polish p...
Pfc. Shimieh Hazel, an infantryman assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, runs down the homestretch of a two-mile ruck march during a ruck and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Konotop, Poland. T...
Sgt. Marcin Buczek, a Polish soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, fires during the during the stress shoot portion of a ruck march and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Konotop, Poland. Ten ...
Pvt. Matthew Mckeon, an infantryman assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires at his target during the during the stress shoot portion of a ruck march and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Kon...
Pvt. Mateusz Hofman, a Polish soldier assigned to 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, fires during the during the stress shoot portion of a ruck march and stress shoot competition between American Polish partners, Jan. 27, in Konotop, Poland. Ten...
During the award ceremony following a friendly competition between Polish and American partners, Lt. Col. Rafal Ostrowski (right), deputy commander of the 12th Mechanized Brigade, Polish Army, presents awards to Pfc. Evan Mankin (left), Pfc. Kyle Nar...
During the award ceremony following a friendly competition between Polish and American partners, 1st Lt. Brian Elliott, a platoon leader assigned to K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, presents a plaque and Wolfpack physical training shorts ...
KONOTOP, POLAND -- When the snow in Konotop, Poland melts, what is left in its place can be best described as mud soup.
By Jan. 27, warmer weather thawed the former winter wonderland just in time for Polish and American partners to hold a competitive ruck march and stress shoot in the messy conditions.
Ten teams each from K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Battalion, 12th Mechanized Brigade, Polish Army, ran two-miles through mud puddles weighted by their rucks.
"The idea (of the competition) was to foster interoperability through some good, healthy competition," said 1st Lt. Brian Elliott, a 3-2 Cav platoon leader and officer in charge of the event. "We thought 'What can we do to assess ourselves and assess our allies using competition to make us a better joint force?' So we built a ruck and stress shoot and executed it."
Each four-man team competed for the best arrival time, separated by 15-minute intervals. One Polish and one American team took off at each start time, racing to the range.
As teams arrived at the range, their finish times were recorded and soldiers were given five minutes to don full protective gear for the stress shoot portion of the competition.
"I expected it to be a lot worse than it was," said Propst, a 3-2 Cav infantryman. "The route was tricky. I expected us to be very neck-and-neck with (the Polish soldiers). I was pretty thrilled to see we were on their tails for most of the run."
Polish and American teams then made their way to the firing line for instruction from range safety officers.
Soldiers began firing in a standing position, moving through prone, kneeling, and 10-meter advancing positions, firing five shots each time.
Targets were graded and tallied for number of hits per team.
During the final event, a squad designated marksman and coach moved to a platform for five attempts to hit a 400-meter target.
"(The competition) was definitely challenging," said Spc. Mason Propst, a native of Port St. Lucy, Florida. "It tested us physically; it tested our skills as shooters and tested our teamwork."
Once all teams completed each portion of the competition, scores were tallied while soldiers enjoyed a hot lunch.
Lt. Col. Rafal Ostrowski, deputy commander of the 12th Mechanized Brigade, Polish Army, presented the winning American team with plaques during an award ceremony following the competition. Elliott presented a commemorative plaque to the winning Polish team's squad leader along with Wolfpack physical training shorts to each member of the team.
"It was a great chance for us to work with the Polish this year," said Propst, alluding to 3-2 Cav's early 2015 training rotation here. "It was amazing to see them run … and shoot. By far (this has been) the best cohesive training we've had so far."
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