Multinational Soldiers deployed to Kosovo compete in German Camp Day competition

PRIZREN, Kosovo- Service members from three nations came together for one cause March 27, as teams from the Polish, German and U.S. armies met on common ground in Prizren, Kosovo vying for the title of German Camp Day champions.

For the competitors the day was broken down into eight grueling stations: a slippery hill climb, wood plank walk, vehicle pull, wheelbarrow and wood chopping race, a transfer of water lane, tire changing and obstacle navigation station, an impaired relay race, and picture familiarization lane.

Each phase of the competition required the six-man teams to sacrifice their strengths as individuals and submit to what was best for the team.

"I think the competition gauges all different aspects so you definitely have to utilize your team," said Sgt. Melissa Jenks, a triage NCO with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment.

Although Jenks and her team found cohesion early in the competition, the same could not be said for all of the teams.

"I never did exercises with U.S. Soldiers... sometimes it was hard, but it was good fun for us," said Polish 2nd Lt. Damian Machalek.

Machalek and his battle buddies from the U.S. were the only true multinational team to compete, but they weren't the only ones to struggle early on. In the beginning, many teams stumbled over each other during iterations of the slippery hill and wood plank walk.

Despite stumbling out of the gate, many Soldiers pushed their pride aside and shifted focus to just having fun.

"It's been a challenge for all of us and it's something new we don't do daily so it takes our mind off of being deployed," said Jenks. "It's been a fun way for us to compete with our international partners. Jokingly we are competing, but really we are just having fun."

Whether in the spirit of fun or true competiveness, Jenks and her team found themselves on the podium as they placed 2nd overall, being beat only by the host nation's German teams who tied for 1st.

Rounding out the top three, was a U.S. team comprised of Soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division and Task Force Med.

Despite missing the podium, Machalek and his team of U.S. and Polish Soldiers said they enjoyed the competition and have already set their sights on the next German Camp Day.