Best Crew Competition: 1-44 ADA Versus Kuwaiti Soldiers

By 2nd Lt. Hannah A. MarzeJune 2, 2014

Best Crew Competition: 1-44 ADA Versus Kuwaiti Soldiers
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 1st Battalion 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment basketball team poses with Kuwaiti Air Defence Force's basketball team after their match in the "Best Crew Competition" held at Camp Arifjan's Gym May 4, 2014. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Hannah Marze, 1st Batt... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Best Crew Competition: 1-44 ADA Versus Kuwaiti Soldiers
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Colonel Maurice O. Barnett, battalion commander, 1st Battalion 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, is shown here with his counterpart, Lt. Colonel Khalid, after the conclusion of the "Best Crew Competition." (US Army photo by 2nd Lt. Hannah Marz... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

KUWAIT -- Nearing the end of a successful year long deployment, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment out of Fort Hood, Texas helped to organize a friendly two-day series of events alongside local Kuwaiti Soldiers. Events like these help to strengthen the partnership between the two countries through recreational competition. Over the course of two days, the "Best Crew Competition" had Soldiers competing against each other in soccer, basketball, tug of war, MOPP gear donning, M16 disassembly and reassembly, and Patriot reloading drills. As a gesture of unification between the two nations, the events took place both on U.S. Camp Arifjan and in Kuwait City. An award ceremony was held at the completion of all events, and the winning teams were given trophies to represent their success in each event.

1-44 ADA Battalion performed extremely well as they proudly represented the United States. All the soldiers that participated in the events left with the uncommon experience of getting to work with Soldiers from a different country in such a relaxed manner. Following the awards ceremony, the Kuwaiti leadership hosted a partnership brunch to celebrate the friendships established amongst the US and Kuwaiti leadership.

This competition helped to break the predetermined image of what a deployment is like, and it also allotted time for both American and Kuwaiti Soldiers to interact and strengthen the bond between the two militaries.