FORT SILL, Okla., June 10, 2016 -- The 75th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB) hosted Diamond Week, May 31 through June 4, an event dedicated to building unit cohesion and morale.
Through sports, team building activities and plenty of friendly competition, the battalions battled for the Diamond Cup, awarded by Col. Nathan Cook, brigade commander.
Battalions garnered points for each event its Soldiers competed in.
Kicking off May 31, Soldier battled Soldier in a day of football at Prichard Field. Battalions played five back-to-back games against one another. Between the football games Soldiers formed teams to compete in the Humvee push event.
Day 2 began with a morning bike race. Riders started at the Patriot Club and the route took them by the scenic green hills of the Fort Sill Golf Course. 1st Lt. Emily Bonner, a bike race competitor, said she enjoyed getting out of the office.
"It was one of the most organized and well put on events I've participated in since being in 75th," Bonner said.
A fast paced game of softball followed the bike race. Soldiers, friends and family members came out to cheer on their respective units. The onlookers would clamor and shout when their team scored or tagged out an opposing base runner.
Day 3 began with Soldiers from each battalion braving the driving rain to participate in a mud run in one of the base training areas. A series of increasingly difficult obstacles was set up, which forced them to use teamwork in addition to stamina and mental toughness.
Soldiers contended with combat task oriented obstacles such as a low crawl through ankle deep mud, a weighted stretcher carry and a fuel can relay.
The competition continued at Rinehart Fitness Center with a unit tug of war and a physical training Olympics, which tested the Soldiers muscle strength and stamina.
Competition moved to Honeycutt Fitness Center Day 4. Competing battalions played basketball on one side of the court, while on the other side a wrestling mat was set out. A combatives tournament took place in the center of the large black mat where Soldiers battled for dominance in sudden elimination matches.
On the final day, Diamond Week wrapped up with two family-friendly runs: a half marathon and a 5K Color Run.
Runner Pfc. Jonathan Simmons, participated in the half marathon and said he liked the variety of events Diamond Week provided.
"I think it'd be good to have something like this every month," Simmons said.
Especially fond of the running events, Simmons said he liked that people of all age groups were represented in the competition.
Equally pleased with the diversity of events Diamond Week afforded, Maj. Anthony Brunner said family was an important part of the week's events.
"You have to include the families as much as possible in what the Soldiers are doing," Brunner said. "They're a critical part of the Army team."
Brunner participated in the 5K Color Run with his wife, Maj. Carrie Brunner, also with the 75th FAB.
After the runs completed, brigade Soldiers and their families gathered in front of the brigade headquarters building to present race awards to the winners. It was after awards were given out that 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery was recognized as the winner of Diamond Week and the battalion's Soldiers received their trophy.
"Sometimes it's hard to balance unit cohesion and camaraderie with everything that goes on within the brigade, but it's important to take a break and let Soldiers compete on the fields of friendly strife," Brunner said.
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