BAUMHOLDER, Germany -- Members of the 702nd and 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Companies competed for the US Army Europe Team of the Year at the training area here June 4-9, with a team from 720th winning the event.
Both units fall under the 16th Special Troops Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, and are the only EOD units under USAREUR.
Three two-man teams each comprised of a leader and a member competed in the week-long USAREUR-level competition.
One team representing 720th EOD was Staff Sgt. Andrew Himple, leader, and Specialist Christopher Thé, member, who had not worked together for long, but agreed that events like the TOY enhance proficiency and readiness.
"It keeps our skills fresh so we don't lose [our] capability," said Himple. "This increases my team's readiness. By working together, we know what each other's needs are."
Himple expressed his pride in his team and was pleased with how well did.
"I've been happy with my team's performance," Himple said. "During the ruck-march we came in first. I was worried because there was a lot of uphill and I'm getting old so my body doesn't like walking that with weight on, but I'm happy with our performance."
Thé used the competition as a tool to prepare himself for real-world scenarios.
"They throw a lot of things at you quickly so you have to think on your feet," said Thé. "When they recreate (these EOD scenarios) for me, that's been the best kind of training."
Organizers challenged the teams with three to four different scenarios daily.
It was a mental and strategic challenge and a battle against the elements, as teams toughed it out against heavy rains and high heat.
For most of the events, organizers gave the teams two hours to finish and graded them using the Combined Arms Training Strategies system.
The events included a dismounted Improvised Explosive Device lane, a rescue lane armed with land mines, and a 12-mile ruck-march.
The winning team will travel to Fort AP Hill, Virginia to compete against other US Army EOD teams around the world.
Staff Sgt. John Harris, leader of 720th EOD and Specialist Adam Tibbles, member of 720th EOD, claimed victory of the TOY.
"I feel good," said Harris after winning the EOD TOY trophy. "I learned that lots of times while training you don't get to experience the stress factor doing our job in a rushed scenario. They presented (the stress factor) well."
Harris and Tibbles have been a team for less than five months, but came out victorious in the USAREUR TOY and look forward to doing the same in Virginia.
"I hope to pull out the W," Harris said. "(I look forward) to some more good training."
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