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Rail Gunner officers raise the PT bar

By Sgt. Lucas C. Hoskins, 41st Fires Brigade, PAOOctober 27, 2010

FORT HOOD, Texas-Maj. Cory McKoy, an intelligence analysis officer in Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade, locks out at the top of a push up while competing in the brigades' officer APFT Challenge last week. McKoy placed third ...
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas-Maj. Cory McKoy, an intelligence analysis officer in Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade, locks out at the top of a push up while competing in the brigades' officer APFT Challenge last week. McKoy placed third ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT HOOD, Texas-Lt. Col. Brian Hammer (left), battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, focuses on proper form while doing sit ups during the brigades' officer APFT Challenge, Oct. 19. Hammer's bat...
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas-Lt. Col. Brian Hammer (left), battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, focuses on proper form while doing sit ups during the brigades' officer APFT Challenge, Oct. 19. Hammer's bat... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT HOOD, Texas-Officers of the 41st Fires Brigade prepare to begin their two mile run during the brigades' officer APFT Challenge. Competitors were graded individually as well as averaged as teams by battalion. The "Deep Strike" officers of 2nd B...
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas-Officers of the 41st Fires Brigade prepare to begin their two mile run during the brigades' officer APFT Challenge. Competitors were graded individually as well as averaged as teams by battalion. The "Deep Strike" officers of 2nd B... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT HOOD, Texas-Lt. Col. Steven Carpenter, executive officer of the 41st Fires Brigade, received an Army Commendation Medal during an awards ceremony Oct. 22 for placing first in the third annual brigades' officer APFT Challenge with a score of 383 ...
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas-Lt. Col. Steven Carpenter, executive officer of the 41st Fires Brigade, received an Army Commendation Medal during an awards ceremony Oct. 22 for placing first in the third annual brigades' officer APFT Challenge with a score of 383 ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
FORT HOOD, Texas- Col. John Thomson (left), brigade commander of the 41st Fires Brigade, presents a first place trophy to Lt. Col Brian Hammer, battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, for his batta...
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Col. John Thomson (left), brigade commander of the 41st Fires Brigade, presents a first place trophy to Lt. Col Brian Hammer, battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, for his batta... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas-Officers of the 41st Fires Brigade competed in the third Rail Gunner Army Physical Fitness Test Challenge, Oct. 19, to promote good physical fitness and esprit de corps.

The participants were graded individually and the scores for each battalion were averaged to determine a team winner. The results and awards were announced Oct.22, prior to a much deserved three-day weekend for the brigade.

During the previous challenge in April, only 118 of 164 assigned officers were able to compete. Though the assigned strength has decreased to 158, the number of officers competing rose to 140 for this competition.

"We must be doing something right for the number of eligible competitors to raise that much," said Col. John Thomson, brigade commander of the 41st Fires Bde.

"The average score also rose from 262 in April to 270," said Thomson. "These numbers speak volumes about the pride our officers take in themselves and their units."

Col. Gary Volesky, the deputy commanding general of maneuvers for the 1st Cavalry Division, accompanied the Rail Gunners officers during the challenge.

More than 30 participants scored a perfect 300, so the extended scale was used to determine the overall winner. With a total score of 383, Lt. Col. Steven Carpenter, executive officer of the 41st Fires Bde., won the competition and earned bragging rights for this year.

"It's an honor," said Carpenter. "There are a lot of great athletes out in the brigade. I think everyone in our profession strives for excellence."

In the team competition, only 14 points separated the average score between the first and last place teams.

"The effort was phenomenal by everyone. Just to see the averages as a whole go up. Every time we do this challenge, it becomes more encouraging," said Carpenter.

Carpenter also stated that competitions like this are good because it gives all the participants a level playing ground to orient themselves to.

With a team average of 282.1 points on the extended scale, Lt. Col Brian Hammer, battalion commander for the 2nd Bat., 20th FA Regt., and his team took home the trophy for the third consecutive time.

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