FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers assigned to 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, tested their mettle last month during an internal competition aimed at building esprit de corps and giving top finishers bragging rights.
Conducted in a field in front of battalion headquarters, "Hammer Olympics" activities kicked off with a four-mile run led by Lt. Col. Michael N. Clancy, 7th Engineer Battalion commander, followed by additional physical training completed in sets of seven -- a small way of honoring the engineers.
After the team-building PT, the companies designated five of their top Soldiers to compete in the Hammer Olympics, a monthly contest that puts select Soldiers through a tough but friendly competition.
The first leg of the race required Soldiers to flip a large tire for 100 meters before lining up behind their respective company's Humvee and pushing the vehicle some 50 meters. Once completed, teams reached a first-aid litter, placed a teammate on the litter, and then carried the simulated casualty approximately 200 meters.
The final event required each team member to complete 10 pullups.
During the events, companies cheered on their teams, motivating them to give each challenge everything they had.
In the end, the team from 642nd Engineer Support Company came out on top. The proud winners earned a two-hour pass for the entire company to cash in at the end of the day.
"The Hammer Olympics are a great way to help build esprit de corps and teamwork among the Soldiers through challenging, yet fun physical training," said Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Lococo, 7th Engineer Battalion senior enlisted adviser.
Organizers of events like Hammer Olympics say physical competition has a way of enhancing camaraderie and instilling pride in not only each Soldier but their units as well.
Social Sharing