Combat engineers compete in Sapper Stakes

By Maj. Ed Ellingson, 1st Brigade Combat Team PAOSeptember 1, 2016

1st Brigade Sapper Stakes 1
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1st Brigade Sapper Stakes 2
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1st Brigade Sapper Stakes 3
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Justin Rous, left, led a squad consisting of members of 3rd Platoon, B Company, 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion, to victory during the week-long Sapper Stakes competition at Fort Drum. The winning squad was awarded with Army Achievement Med... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Combat engineers with the 1st Brigade Combat Team's 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion gave it their all vying for top honors in Hammer Battalion's "Sapper Stakes" on Fort Drum, Aug. 21-26.

A composite squad consisting of Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, B Company rose above the rest to claim victory.

"They fought to win from the very beginning," said Lt. Col. Paul Culberson, 7th BEB commander. "I'm extremely proud of their efforts."

Soldiers had to complete 10 tasks, which were worth 100 points each, for a total possible score of 1,000.

"The competition came down to the last event," Culberson said. "Our winners had 839 points, and the next team was only 15 points behind them."

The events included breaching obstacles, reconnaissance of different objectives, and other Sapper tasks that required the competitors exhibit tactical and technical proficiency.

"It was good to get back to the basics," said Staff Sgt. Justin Rous, who led the winning squad.

The booby trap lane was the most challenging lane for Rous, who said he was less familiar with those tasks than the others in Sapper Stakes.

"I learned a lot about myself at the booby trap lane," he said. "(Our squad) was able establish some good (tactics, techniques and procedures) from that training."

The Sappers traveled more than 40 miles by foot during the week's events, including a 10-mile ruck march back in from the field, beginning at 4 a.m. Friday.

"It's physically challenging but it's been awesome," said Sgt. Victor Elizalde, who led 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, A Company through the competition. "Training with the squad is what it's all about."

Rous and his squad were awarded Army Achievement Medals during a ceremony in front of the assembled 7th BEB at the battalion headquarters.

"I'm just happy all our hard work paid off," Rous said. "I couldn't have asked for a better group of guys."