FORT HOOD, Texas - Soldiers of the 15th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), wrapped up a two-week competition Jan. 30 in the brigade's quarterly Wagonmaster Stakes.
The competition, which is meant to build teamwork, according to Master Sgt. Belinda Williams, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the brigade's operations section, started on Jan. 20 and consisted of five different events.
Teams competed in the swimming soccer, flag football, bowling, as well as men's and women's basketball tournaments, while individuals competed in swimming and bowling, Williams said.
"It's all about cohesion, morale and having the units, all the personnel come together as one to have a good time," Williams, a Chicago, native, said, adding that it can also be a good way to relieve stress.
Col. Larry Phelps, the brigade's commander, said team-building events like Wagonmaster Stakes are important to help build morale, because the 15th SB is one of the busiest brigades on Fort Hood.
"We got to be concerned about whether or not our Soldiers are having fun," Phelps said. "We treat the brigade like a big family, and part of having a good family is having family events."
Phelps added that the unit needs to be able to juggle several different missions, rather than just one.
"You've got to be able to juggle having fun and taking care of Soldiers while getting the mission done," he said.
At the end of the competition, trophies were awarded to the winning teams in each of the events, and medals to each member of the teams.
The first Wagonmaster Stakes was a track and field event held in October 2008, and the overall winner was the brigade's Special Troops Battalion.
This quarter's Stakes had individual companies competing, rather than the battalions. Points were awarded to each company for how well their Soldiers placed in each event.
Three of the sports, women's basketball, flag football and soccer, were won by the STB's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, but that was only good enough for third place overall.
The overall first place winner was the STB's 565th Quartermaster Company.
Complete Results:
Swimming Relay:
1st place: 263rd Maintenance Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd place: 565th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd place: A Company, Special Troops Battalion
Swimming Individual:
Male 50 meters Female 50 Meters
1st: Torgenson (157) 1st: SGT Chaisson (A co STB)
2nd: Thomas (53rd) 2nd: Rowland (297)
3rd: PFC Mock (565) 3rd: Merritt (154)
Bowling:
Team:
1st place: 418th Transportation Company, 180th Transportation Battalion
2nd place: 263rd Maintenance Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd place: Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 49th Transportation Battalion
Individual: Highest average
Male: SPC Ferris, avg: 196, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 49th Transportation Battalion
Female: SGT Reed, avg: 226, 263rd Maintenance Company, Special Troops Battalion
Soccer:
1st Place: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd Place: 263rd Maintenance Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd Place: 565 Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
Flag Football
1st Place: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd Place: 418th Transportation Company, 180th Transportation Battalion
3rd Place: 157th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
Woman's Basketball:
1st place: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd place: 289th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd place: 565 Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
Men's Basketball:
1st place: 157th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd place: 53rd Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd place: 565th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
Overall Winner:
1st Place: 565th Quartermaster Company, Special Troops Battalion
2nd Place: 263rd Maintenance Company, Special Troops Battalion
3rd Place: Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion
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