FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- On a crisp September morning company, commanders with the 193rd Infantry Brigade met for physical training at 5:30 a.m. Captains and majors sounded off on the cool dew-saturated grass while the newest among their ranks led the formation in the Preparation Drill, Conditioning Exercise 1 and Conditioning Exercise 2.
What followed was not just "officer PT." The training included a reflection on the history of the 193rd Infantry Brigade, its subordinate units and the heroes that came from within. It also was a competition taken seriously by participants. It was also opportunity for the brigade commander to interface and associate with subordinate commanders. The goal of the 193rd Honors PT is to build leaders while competing for the 193rd Honors PT Cup.
The central focus of the 193rd Honors PT for the last three months has been the valorous actions of the late retired Lt. Col. Matt Urban, a World War II veteran who earned the Medal of Honor while participating in the allied invasion of France with the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment. Then a captain, Urban performed a series of heroic actions, many of which required intense physical activity while under duress in combat.
Honors PT events are modeled after those events. Participants are read portions of the Medal of Honor citation before beginning each event. For example: While serving as a company commander leading an attack at Renaouf, France, Urban found his company under fire from "...enemy tanks (that) were unmercifully raking this unit and inflicting heavy casualties." Armed with a bazooka, "he worked his way with an ammo carrier through hedgerows, under a continuing barrage of fire, to a point near the tanks. He brazenly exposed himself to the enemy fire and, firing the bazooka, destroyed both tanks."
Following the citation, battle buddy teams will conduct sprints and carry sand bags. In battle buddy teams, contestants complete a circuit of events that emulate the actions performed by Urban.
Urban has been an iconic figure for Soldiers in the 193rd, serving as a model of heroism and valor whom leaders can reference as they discuss the heritage of the unit. The 193rd was fortunate to be able to send 2nd Bat talion, 60th Infantry Battalion command team, Lt. Col. Jeff Kirby and Sgt. Maj. William Tramel, to Arlington National Cemetery to a wreath-laying ceremony for Urban. This helped to further establish an organizational culture of pride and motivation within the 193rd.
Honors PT is just one portion of the 193rd Leader Professional Development Program. Honors PT -- coupled with weekly rally point discussions targeted at different audiences, as well as officer-led discussions during which company commanders take turns leading dialogs based on topics previously agreed on by the forum -- make up some of the formal portions of the 193rd Leader Professional Development Program.
The culminating Honors PT championship event last quarter was a surprise event. Participants consisted of the winning teams from previous Honors PT events. The overall winners were Capt. Keith Fine, commander of Company F, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, and Capt. Alexander VanHout, operations officer of the 3-60th. These winners were awarded the 193rd Honors PT Cup.
Fine expressed his surprise regarding the increasingly competitive nature of the event.
"Initially I thought this would just be a regular officer PT session where the brigade commander addresses us and we go for a run," he said. "However, it was completely the opposite. It was competitive, challenging and a break from the norm of the repetitive physical readiness training sessions. At the end of the day I got to know my peers a little better, create connections -- all while I worked up a little bit of a sweat. The Medal of Honor citations brought it home and kept us grounded in our unit history. I'm looking forward to competing for the 193rd Honors PT cup again."
The 193rd continues its practice of conducting Honors PT. Drawing from the unit's heritage in this way has been a valuable vehicle for inspiration. These practices tied to other activities have bolstered the development of leaders within the 193rd.
Social Sharing