SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Persevering through 4 days of intense physical and mental challenges, 20 squads from the 84th Engineer Battalion,130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, competed in the 2017 "Never Daunted" Best Squad Competition March 13 -16 here.
Each phase of the competition was crafted to evaluate the warrior tasks and battle drills essential to individual and unit readiness. The events also served to build unit cohesion and comradery during challenging scenarios.
"Best squad was a great experience for building comradery within the squad while being pushed and pressured to our limits," said Spc. Matthew Felker, a combat engineer with 95th Engineer Company (Sapper).
Felker went on to say that the competition is a rewarding culmination of events that displayed everything that he has trained on over the past several months.
The competition tested each squad's mental and physical determination through situations such as stress shooting, urban orienteering, and tactical evaluation scenarios.
Throughout the competition, each squad completed various events at different stations for a recorded time and score.
On Day 1, squads completed a timed urban orienteering course and live fire stress shoot. The first portion of the shoot consisted of a combat oriented CrossFit station where Soldiers flipped an enormous 400 pound Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck tire (HEMTT), carried jugs of water, and carried a 200-pound litter while wearing full body armor.
Immediately following those challenges, Soldiers engaged targets from the standing and kneeling position within 60 seconds to round out their final event score.
On the following three days, Soldiers completed five tactical evaluation lanes and a timed obstacle course. During the tactical assessment, squads were graded on key warrior tasks and battle drills including reaction to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), treating a casualty, reconnaissance, and constructing individual fighting positions.
Next the squads executed a 1.5 mile ruck - run uphill to an obstacle course. Soldiers were tested on their physical strength and endurance as they accomplished 10 obstacle stations as a squad.
"The confidence obstacle course tested our personal courage and physical resilience. My favorite parts were the 'Jacob's Ladder' and the 'Weaver' [obstacles]," said Spc. Anthony Lehman, a heavy equipment operator with 561st Engineer Construction Company.
Whether carrying water jugs or road marching from one event to another, each squad built upon their teamwork and created strong relationships with each other through shared experiences and healthy competition.
"The Best Squad Competition builds confidence within the squads and their Soldiers," said Sgt. Alisha Semple, a human resource specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company. "It allows a team to become more cohesive while reacting to situations under pressure and making on the spot decisions."
On March 21, 2017, the top 3 squads in the 84th Engineer Battalion received special recognition from the battalion command team, but the top squad was 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, 95th Engineer Company (Sapper) led by Staff Sgt. Donald Parker, his squad includes Sgt. Matthew Whisler, Sgt. Jacob Miller, Spc. Matthew Felker, Spc. Charles Dalley, Spc Yosbel Vicet, Pfc. Joseph Grabenhofer, Pvt. Gregory Castaneda, Pvt. Allen Rodriguez, and Pvt. Kenneth Bottom. Each member of the winning squad was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for their outstanding performance.
"I am proud of the outstanding performance by the NCOs and Soldiers of the 'Never Daunted' team, their professionalism and dedication are key to our success," said Command Sgt. Maj. Sergio Ortega, 84th Engineer Battalion Command Sergeant Major.
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