210th BSB conducts snow challenge

By Capt. Lindsey Rowland, Contributing WriterFebruary 2, 2012

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FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers from 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team participated in the Provider Snow Challenge, Jan. 18-20 on Fort Drum.

Provider Snow Challenge was designed to test both the physical and mental skills of 210th BSB Soldiers in a winter environment as well as to build esprit de corps. Soldiers in the ranks of private to sergeant participated in the exercise.

"The officers of 210th BSB pretested the course (during) the Tactical Exercise Without Troops," said Capt. Allen Crabtree, commander of B Company, 210th BSB. "The course was definitely challenging and forced the teams to unite and work together to complete the course. The cold weather only added to the challenge."

Soldiers were broken down into teams of six to 10. The event kicked off with a station combining the litter carry and Humvee uphill push. Other stations included a water jug carry, a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle tire flip, maneuver a litter through a minefield, an M-4 / M-16 rifle range and a snowshoe relay.

Soldiers found it difficult to maneuver in the snow, but they discovered ways to accomplish the tasks.

"Moving the LMTV tire was very difficult; it was hard to get traction on the snow to flip the tire over," said Spc. Micheline Saint-Gilles, an armorer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 210th BSB. "We ended up just pushing the tire flat across the snow."

Attaching chains to vehicle tires is an important task when driving in snow.

"Although a basic task, with the snow and cold it was challenging to align (the chains) with the large tires and then fasten the chains in the proper place," said Spc. Jennifer Leal, a supply clerk with HHC, 210th BSB.

Learning to work in snow and low temperatures is important for Soldiers at Fort Drum.

"The challenge was 'real' cold-weather training," said 2nd Lt. Andrew Zemany, executive officer for HHC, 210th BSB. "We receive the training, but this was a great chance to use the training to stay warm in the low temperatures."

The winning team was decided by the highest final score, which was calculated by a combination of the average score on the marksmanship portion as well as the total time to complete the stations.

"The Provider Snow Challenge really combines some basic Soldier skills with the heritage of the 10th Mountain Division, and serves to build esprit de corps and resiliency in our Soldiers," said Lt. Col. William Ellis, 210th BSB commander.

Rowland serves with 210th Brigade Support Battalion

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