FORT BENNING, Ga., (March 23 2016) -- It's not every day that Soldiers can participate in a competition that provides career-enhancing benefits, but for Airborne instructors this opportunity comes once a year in the form of the Black Hat of the Year competition.
Airborne instructors of the 1st Battalion Airborne, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment competed for the title of Black Hat of the Year March 14-16, a competition that rewards the winner with admittance to the elite Military Free-Fall school as well as participation in the historic Operation Market Garden jump in Holland.
The Black Hat of the Year competition identifies the most tactically proficient, physically fit, and knowledgeable Black Hat instructor within Airborne School, said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Robertson, one of the coordinators of the event. The competition is named after the black headgear that Airborne instructors wear.
"This is a way of distinguishing yourself amongst your peers. Everyone here is really good at what they do so this is a good way of rising above because all the jumpmasters are amazing," said competitor Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Gurule.
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wiesman, winner of the 2015 Black Hat of the Year, said that winning the competition gave him opportunities he never would have had otherwise.
"I got to go to Holland and participate in the historic Operation Market Garden (commemorative) jump. So not only did I get to jump on a foreign drop zone with foreign jumpmasters, surrounded by foreign jumpers, which itself is a great experience, I also got to go to Holland and see the sights and piece together some of the history and see some of the historic battlefields," said Wiesman.
Operation Market Garden was the largest Airborne operation up to that point and took place Sept. 17-25, 1944.
In addition to participating in the Operation Market Garden commemorative jump, Wiesman attended Military Free-Fall school.
"I would have never, ever, had that opportunity in my current career path if I hadn't won Black Hat," said Wiesman.
The competition consists of three days of testing where competitors must pass a variety of challenges such as the 18-21 year old standard of the Army physical fitness test to finding deficiencies on jumpers during a timed inspection showing their mastery of jumpmaster personal inspections.
While the competition is designed to be tough, it is comprised of common tasks Airborne instructors do regularly. The only difference is that it is condensed into three days, said Gurule.
Wiesman agreed that every challenge mirrors the job of an Airborne instructor, and because of that nothing should stop Airborne instructors from competing in future competitions.
"You know your job, otherwise you wouldn't even be thinking about competing. If you don't have anything to lose, but you have everything to gain, there is no reason why you shouldn't try to push yourself and go to that next level," said Wiesman.
The 2016 Black Hat of the Year will be awarded in April.
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