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U.S. Army Spc. Jerrold Bali with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, strives for one more pull-up during the battalion's Mid-Tour Celebration at Kandahar Airfield, Af...
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The 702nd Brigade Support Battalion leadership pose for a photo with the winning team from Charlie Compnay at the conclusion of the unit's mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Pictured are Capt. S...
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U.S. Army Pfc. Christian Ortiz waves the Charlie company guidon as the company celebrates its victory in the team competition at the 702nd Brigade Support Battalion mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, Afghani...
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U.S. Army Spc. Justin Bevis with Bravo Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, makes a toss in the corn hole event during the battalion's Mid-Tour Celebration at Kandahar Airfield, Kandahar province, ...
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U.S. Army 1st Lt. Nick Gough of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, strains to beat the clock on the return trip during the tire pull event at the battalion's mid-tou...
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U.S. Army Spc. Albert Trevino with Bravo Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, sinks a shot in the miniature golf event during the battalion's Mid-Tour Celebration at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan,...
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U.S. Army Spc. Drake Waters with Bravo Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, competes in the jump rope event during the battalion's mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghani...
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U.S. Army Spc. Justin Bevis of Bravo Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, passes the push-up event while competing in the tire pull at the battalion's mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandah...
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U.S. Army Spc. Drake Waters of Bravo Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, receives encouragement during the tire pull event at the battalion's mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandahar Airfi...
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U.S. Army Sgt. John Donahoo of Charlie Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, throws a ringer in the horseshoe event at the battalion's mid-tour celebration March 17, 2013, at Kandahar Airfield, Kand...
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U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Phillip Preyer with Charlie Company, 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, races for the finish in the tire pull event during the battalion's Mid-Tour Celebration at Kandahar Airfiel...
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KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The 702nd Brigade Support Battalion, "The Deuce," celebrated the mid-point of its Afghanistan tour in support of the Fourth Brigade Combat Team, Second Infantry Division, with a competition here March 17.
"This was encouragement for the soldiers and to remind them that even though we're far from home we're not totally separate," said Capt. Soojin Chang, the battalion chaplain. "Hopefully, this will boost our morale and we'll finish strong."
Each company selected four soldiers to represent them in the competition. The teams ran a circuit course of ten events with one minute to score as many points as possible at each stop. Events included pull-ups, jump rope, free throws, push-ups, corn hole, box jump, three-pointers, tire pull, miniature golf and horseshoes. An individual competition was also open to all Soldiers for each event.
"It was a good chance to unwind. We needed that," said Spc. Nathan Fanton of Company C.
Spc. Kelly Nering of Headquarters and Headquarters Company agreed.
"It was a really good idea to bring up morale," she said. "It's good to see all the companies compete and being good sports about it. I think it was a success."
Company C captured the win with a narrow one-point victory over Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Company A placed third. The winning company was presented with a plaque that included the unit's motto, "Mend the broken sword." Individual winners were awarded an identical, but smaller, plaque.
"We never lose," joked Capt. Tristan Manning, Company C commander. "The competition was fierce, but I have confidence in my soldiers. They had fun doing it, which was what was important."
The competition, however, was not as important as what it represented, said Lt. Col. Scot Doboszenski, the battalion commander.
"Soldiers in general love to compete," he said. "This was a good way to build espirit de corps and spend time together. Taking opportunities to do stuff other than the mission really allows soldiers to take a break and reset."
The battalion is headquartered at Fort Lewis-McChord, Wash.
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