FORT BLISS, TEXAS -- He was a hero. He wore a green beret. He was an El Paso native.
In honor of Staff Sgt. Joshua Mills and his service, the Fort Bliss Special Forces Recruiting office will be hosting the 2nd Annual Staff Sgt. Joshua Mills Commando Competition, scheduled to be held Sept. 16-18, 2015, here.
Mills died as a result of a roadside bombing incident in Afghanistan on Sept. 16, 2009. Mills enlisted as a Special Forces recruit and was with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at the time of his death.
This competition is all about honoring Mills and building esprit de corps among Soldiers of the 1st Armored Division and Special Operations Soldiers, said Sgt. 1st Class Wesley Carey, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 2nd Annual Commando Competition.
"We wanted to do something in honor of him," said Carey. "We wanted to reignite the kindred spirit between the special operations and the 1st Armored Division."
Carey explained this year's competition will last three days, as opposed to last year's one-day event. It will also push the competitors harder than last year's competition.
"It will show Soldiers what they're actually made of," said Sgt. Francisco Calderon, a 147th SMC, 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Brigade Soldier who participated last year. "It will show them how much strength they have in their tank."
This competition will hopefully bring Soldiers and the El Paso community, where Mills came from, together, said Carey.
"Mills was not a Fort Bliss Soldier, but he was born and raised here," said Carey. "We wanted to rekindle the relationship between Fort Bliss and the El Paso community."
Not only is this event important to the special operations Soldiers, it is also a big deal for the Mills family.
"This is important for us [Special Forces] because Staff Sgt. Mills came from El Paso and his family comes out to support; It's important to them to see that Soldiers participate and join us in honoring him," said Calderon.
For more information regarding the Commando Competition, please contact Fort Bliss Special Forces Recruiting at (915) 569-6431.
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