FORT MEADE, Md. -- Lt. Col Eric S. Fowler, the commander of the 741st Military Intelligence Battalion (left), along with the units senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Kirkland (right), pose with the "Silent Warrior" Challenge winners...
Spc. Javier Sanchez, assigned to B Co. 741st Military Intelligence
Battalion, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, endures a 12-mile foot march
during the 'Silent Warrior' Challenge, July. 20, here at Fort Meade,
Maryland. The challenge put Soldiers ...
Sgt. Emily Von-Alexander, assigned to C Co. 741st Military Intelligence
Battalion, 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, answers questions about Army
Warrior Tasks at the half-way point of the 12-mile foot march event during
'Silent Warrior Challenge,...
FORT MEADE, Md. -- The 741st Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion's 'Silent Warrior' Challenge began well before daylight, putting the physical and mental agility of 23 Soldiers competing for an opportunity to vie for top honors to the test June 20.
The challenge kicked-off at McGlachlin Parade Field with a 12-mile foot march carrying a rifle and a 30-lbs ruck sack, an assessment on Army Warrior Tasks (ATW), and unlike other competitions held in the unit, ended with the completion of an 800-meter swim for time at Gaffney Fitness Center.
"Competition is healthy and it's good for the organization," said Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D. Kirkland, the senior enlisted leader of 741st MI Battalion. "We wanted to do something that would give the Soldiers an opportunity to compete both physically and mentally and we wanted to prepare for the brigade board because we like winning those things."
And win they do. The 741st MI is home to U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command's 2018 Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year, Staff Sgt. Melanie Wahl. With that title, Kirkland said he plans to hold on to it by continuing to build on the training he's already implementing in his unit, adding Basic Rifle Marksmanship, more hand's on with AWT, incorporating the new Army Combat Fitness Test, and lengthening the challenge from one day to a week to develop the 'Total Soldier'.
Kirkland addressed the competitors at the end of the event and congratulated them all on job well done and said, "I know you all are smoked, but it's just a testament to your fortitude, the thing inside of you that tells you to keep going and I'm proud that you all are part of the Silent Warrior battalion."
Coins were presented to the top performers in each category of the challenge, but only the Soldier and NCO with the best scores across the board could be named the winner.
Spc. Javier Sanchez, assigned to Bravo Company and Sgt. Emily Von Alexander, assigned to Charlie Company 741st MI Battalion, claimed the 'Silent Warrior' Challenge title and were awarded impact Army Achievement Medals by the commander of the 741st MI Battalion, Lt. Col. Eric S. Fowler.
"You're standing proud out here, at the end of an extraordinarily challenging group of events that were meant to test you, not only as individuals, but specifically as Soldiers," said Fowler. "You executed these tasks under stress, when it was hard, and kept going when you probably didn't want to or didn't even think you could."
Von Alexander is no stranger to winning either. In 2017, her team dominated the 2017 Super Squad competition during Armed Force Week, and this challenge was no different.
She said the hardest event for her was the 12-mile foot march, but she finished in 2 hours and 50 minutes, within Army Air Assault course standards.
For Soldiers who will compete in the 'Silent Warrior' Challenges ahead she emphasized, "the competition is hard and you must be prepared to think on your feet when it comes to Army Warrior Tasks, but it's a great opportunity for everyone to train."
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