BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Commanders and command sergeants major from Combined Joint Task Force-10 and Regional Command - East took part in the first CJTF-10 Commander's Cup here Thursday.
These commanders and command sergeants major of the various brigades and task forces around eastern Afghanistan went head to head in a marksmanship test of skills and speed with the 9 mm pistol and the M4 carbine.
The 10th Mountain Division (LI) was represented by Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney "Ray" Lewis, division senior enlisted adviser, and the command teams of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, and Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion.
The intense competition began with both members dragging a 150-pound medical sled filled with sand bags across 100 meters to the start point 25 meters away from their first target. At this first lane, the first of the shooters engaged 25-meter to 15-meter targets with their rifle and then transitioned to the pistol.
The first shooter then engaged the second target with their pistol from 15 meters to 10 meters. The second shooter followed the same sequence.
"The Commanders Cup was a great opportunity for leaders to compete and build relationships among the various task forces operating in RC-East," said Col. Willie Rios III, 10th Sustainment Brigade commander. "This was also a great opportunity for both me and Command Sgt. Maj. Jose Castillo to build our command team relationship and showcase our marksmanship capability. I would definitely recommend that we continue incorporating this type of team building events for future commander conferences."
After both shooters finished the first lane, the teams faced a much faster and more complex second lane. During the second lane, the shooters faced a total of 20 targets spread out among four separate stations.
The first 18 targets were spread out among three stations varying in range from 10 to 15 meters. The last two targets were engaged at the 25-meter mark. Shooters would run from point to point and engage the targets to get the fastest time possible.
"But this was more than just a competition of basic marksmanship skills, the Commander's Cup was intended to test the skills required while in an amber status on the FOB, on red status during a patrol, and against an insider attack while at a shura," said Capt. Pete Bauleke, aide de camp to the, Brig. Gen. Mark O'Neil, deputy commanding general of operations. "Teams had to demonstrate their ability to shoot with a round loaded and unloaded. They had to move quickly, acquire multiple targets and shoot while fatigued."
In the end, Task Force Thunder's command team of Col. Jimmy Blackmon and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Dvorsky had the right combination of agility, speed and precision to beat the competitors.
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