U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY JON BLEIWEIS, APG NEWS … · CertificateofAchievement“foroutstanding...
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Thursday, July 5, 2018 • APG News A3 Operation Clean Sweep participants recognized Thirteen soldiers from the the 8th Ordnance Company in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as well as civilians from the Logistics Readiness Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, were recognized by APG Garrison Commander Robert L. Phillips III and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan A. Uribe-Huitron for their contributions toward Opera- tion Clean Sweep. The soldiers assisted with moving, issuing, receiving, shipping, re-packing, invento- rying and inspecting 11,054 different lines of munition at APG, or more than 36 million pounds, since their arrival on March 1. The group left APG Friday. In this photo, Phillips placed an Army achievement medal on Staff Sgt. Lawrence E. Ross Jr. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY JON BLEIWEIS, APG NEWS Seven Soldiers from throughout the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Command com- peted in the 2018 Best Warrior Competition, held June17-22 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, New Jersey. Staff Sgt. Brandon Hatch, of the 754th Ordnance Company, 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD), earned top honors as the Noncommis- sioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Michael McClean with Headquarters and Head- quarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) was selected as the Soldier of the Year. They will represent the 20th CBRNE Com- mand at the U.S. Army Forces Command competition in August. “We plan this competition months in advance, and I have a strong NCO cadre from around the command to help run these warrior skill events,” said Master Sgt. David Rio, NCO in charge of the competition. “We want to make this accurate and realistic in testing a wide range of Soldier skills. The Fort Dix training sites are exactly what we needed.” The command competition has been held since 2007. Competitors are evaluated on their physical fitness, knowledge, practical execution of warrior tasks and battle drills, and general Army knowledge. Pvt. Naod Alemayehu, a signal support specialist who competed for the 52nd EOD, said he was not deterred by the physical exertion of the competition. “I played a lot of soccer in clubs before joining the Army so I was prepared for the physical part of the training.” Utilizing the various training opportunities at Fort Dix, the competition challenged each Soldier with multiple warrior tasks including a physical fitness test, tactical combat casualty care, an obstacle course, weapons mainte- nance, visual signal techniques, helicopter landing zone operations, a written exam, day and night land navigation, and an 8-mile march with a 45-pound rucksack. “I am having fun with all of this,” said Spc. Andre Van Lange, a CBRN specialist repre- senting the 48th Chemical Brigade. “This is an accelerated learning process considering the physical nature of the training. But staying in shape is a hobby of mine.” The competition concluded with each Soldier answering questions about Army knowledge and Soldier skills before a board of command sergeants major. Each Soldiers’ performance at every event was scored against an established standard. “This is a realistic experience,” said Sgt. Ji Lu, the CBRN NCO who represented the 48th Chemical Brigade. “I would like more of my peers to have this opportunity. I think it would bring us together more.” Physical challenges The stress shoot activity on Day 2 involved significant physical activity followed immedi- ately by running to a firing line to shoot an M4 rifle with all actions done on sand. A stress shoot tests a Soldier’s ability to engage a target after prolonged physical exertion and mental exhaustion. “The stress shoot was the most challenging [event] for me,” shared Spc. John Frazho, a road vehicle mechanic and the lone competi- tor from HHC, 20th CBRNE Command. The physical actions, designed to simulate the stress of combat, included dragging a 180-pound mannequin on a Skedco stretcher, followed by flipping a120-pound tire over and over on a course, then carrying two 40-pound water jugs, followed by running to the firing line. “The stress shoot was more challenging than I expected,” said Soldier of the Year McClean, who serves as an intelligence analyst. “It was an experience that was great training for me.” Once they reached the stress shoot firing line, each Soldier fired five rounds at a target, then crawled to fire from a prone position, then crawled again and fired from an unsupported position. “It’s good to be in this competition,” said Hatch, the NCO of the Year who also is an EOD technician. “I take pride in what it takes to be here and how I stack up. The stress shoot was unique and realistic.” Urban Orienteering At the urban orienteering training scenario, the test required Soldiers to depart an assembly area to go to a starting point. In addition to a compass and grid map of the area, each Soldier had a helmet, a rifle, a hydration source under an assault pack and over a protective tactical vest, a gas mask strapped to his leg, and a tactical radio for communication. Their mission was to follow the prescribed route through buildings and terrain to com- plete multiple tasks and drills. The trainers constantly encouraged the Soldiers to “com- plete the mission” even if they got stuck or confused on one phase. They had three hours to reach the selected grid reference points and complete the mission. The competitors said they were impressed by the range of events and shared their thoughts on the competition. “I really like the learning and that this is a hands-on experience,” said Sgt. Kalen Bolton, an EOD technician representing the 71st EOD. During the June 22 award ceremony, Hatch and McClean were presented the Army Commendation Medal by 20th CBRNE Command leader Brig. Gen. James Bonner and Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham. “There is a lot of value in conducting events such as these,” said Graham. “For the competitors, it allows for them to demon- strate their knowledge, skills and abilities as well as physical stamina and mental capa- bility. For the NCO cadre, it is an opportunity for them to learn and grow as a leader and trainer. Finally for me, I value this training for what it allows me to see from a holistic stand point of Soldier readiness.” Each Soldier also received a 20th CBRNE Certificate of Achievement “for outstanding performance and warrior ethos;” a backpack filled with supplies; a command coin; an eagle photo from the Association of the United States Army’ Maj. Gen. Harold Greene Aberdeen Chapter; and a challenge coin from the Veterans Corps of America. “This is a hard event to pull off,” Graham added, “and we did it extremely well this year.” 20th CBRNE Command Soldiers compete for best warrior selection By Clemens Gaines 20th CBRNE Command From right, Brig. Gen. James Bonner, commander of the 20th CBRNE Command, congratulates Spc. Michael McClean of the 71st Ord- nance Group (EOD), who was selected as the Soldier of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Brandon Hatch, of the 52nd Ord. Group (EOD), who was named NCO ofthe Year, as 20 th CBRNE Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, command sergeant major, 20th CBRNE Command looks on during the Best Warrior Competition award ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The two will represent the Command at the U.S. Army Forces Command competition in August. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY PFC. JAMES WHITAKER, 55TH COMBAT CAMERA Pvt. Naod Alemayehu, representing the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD), flips a120-pound tire during the stress shoot exercise of the 20th CBRNE Command 2018 Best Warrior Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CLEMENS GAINES, 20TH CBRNE COMMAND
Transcript of U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY JON BLEIWEIS, APG NEWS … · CertificateofAchievement“foroutstanding...
Thursday, July 5, 2018 • APG News A3
Operation Clean Sweep participants recognized
Thirteen soldiers from thethe 8th Ordnance Companyin Fort Bragg, North Carolina,as well as civilians from theLogistics Readiness Center atAberdeen Proving Ground,were recognized by APGGarrison Commander RobertL. Phillips III and GarrisonCommand Sgt. Maj. JonathanA. Uribe-Huitron for theircontributions toward Opera-tion Clean Sweep.
The soldiers assisted withmoving, issuing, receiving,shipping, re-packing, invento-rying and inspecting 11,054different lines of munition atAPG, or more than 36 millionpounds, since their arrival onMarch 1. The group left APGFriday.
In this photo, Phillipsplaced an Army achievementmedal on Staff Sgt. LawrenceE. Ross Jr.
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY JON BLEIWEIS, APG NEWS
Seven Soldiers from throughout the 20thChemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear,and Explosives (CBRNE) Command com-peted in the 2018 Best Warrior Competition,held June 17-22 at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst,NewJersey.
Staff Sgt. Brandon Hatch, of the 754thOrdnance Company, 52nd Ordnance Group(EOD),earnedtophonorsastheNoncommis-sioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. MichaelMcClean with Headquarters and Head-quarters Detachment, 71st Ordnance Group(EOD)was selected as theSoldier of theYear.They will represent the 20th CBRNE Com-mand at the U.S. Army Forces Commandcompetition inAugust.
“We plan this competition months inadvance, and Ihave a strongNCOcadre fromaround the command to help run thesewarrior skill events,” said Master Sgt. DavidRio, NCO in charge of the competition. “Wewant to make this accurate and realistic intestingawide rangeofSoldier skills.TheFortDix training sites are exactly what weneeded.”
The command competition has been heldsince 2007. Competitors are evaluated ontheir physical fitness, knowledge, practicalexecution of warrior tasks and battle drills,andgeneralArmyknowledge.
Pvt. Naod Alemayehu, a signal supportspecialist who competed for the 52nd EOD,said he was not deterred by the physicalexertionof thecompetition.
“I played a lot of soccer in clubs beforejoining the Army so I was prepared for thephysicalpartof the training.”
Utilizingthevarious trainingopportunitiesat Fort Dix, the competition challenged eachSoldierwithmultiplewarrior tasks includingaphysical fitnesstest, tacticalcombatcasualtycare, an obstacle course, weapons mainte-nance, visual signal techniques, helicopterlanding zone operations, a written exam, dayand night land navigation, and an 8-milemarchwitha45-poundrucksack.
“I amhaving funwith all of this,” said Spc.Andre Van Lange, a CBRN specialist repre-senting the 48th Chemical Brigade. “This isan accelerated learning process consideringthephysicalnatureof thetraining.Butstayinginshape isahobbyofmine.”
The competition concluded with eachSoldier answering questions about ArmyknowledgeandSoldierskillsbeforeaboardofcommand sergeants major. Each Soldiers’performance at every event was scoredagainst anestablishedstandard.
“This is a realistic experience,” said Sgt. JiLu, the CBRN NCO who represented the48thChemicalBrigade. “Iwould likemoreofmy peers to have this opportunity. I think itwouldbringus togethermore.”
PhysicalchallengesThe stress shoot activity onDay2 involved
significantphysical activity followed immedi-atelybyrunningtoafiringlinetoshootanM4rifle with all actions done on sand. A stressshoot testsaSoldier’sability toengageatargetafter prolonged physical exertion andmentalexhaustion.
“Thestressshootwasthemostchallenging[event] for me,” shared Spc. John Frazho, aroad vehiclemechanic and the lone competi-tor fromHHC,20thCBRNECommand.
The physical actions, designed to simulatethe stress of combat, included dragging a180-poundmannequin on a Skedco stretcher,followedbyflippinga120-poundtireoverand
overonacourse, thencarryingtwo40-poundwater jugs, followed by running to the firingline.
“The stress shoot was more challengingthan I expected,” said Soldier of the YearMcClean, who serves as an intelligenceanalyst. “It was an experience that was greattraining forme.”
Once they reached the stress shoot firingline, each Soldier fired five rounds at a target,then crawled to fire from a prone position,then crawled again and fired from anunsupportedposition.
“It’s good to be in this competition,” saidHatch, the NCO of the Year who also is anEODtechnician. “I takepride inwhat it takestobehereandhowIstackup.Thestressshootwasuniqueandrealistic.”
UrbanOrienteeringAttheurbanorienteeringtrainingscenario,
the test required Soldiers to depart anassembly area to go to a starting point. Inaddition to a compass and grid map of thearea, each Soldier had a helmet, a rifle, ahydration source under an assault pack andover a protective tactical vest, a gas maskstrapped to his leg, and a tactical radio forcommunication.
Theirmissionwas to followtheprescribedroute through buildings and terrain to com-plete multiple tasks and drills. The trainersconstantly encouraged the Soldiers to “com-plete the mission” even if they got stuck orconfusedononephase.Theyhadthreehourstoreachtheselectedgridreferencepointsandcomplete the mission. The competitors saidthey were impressed by the range of eventsandsharedtheirthoughtsonthecompetition.
“I really like the learning and that this is ahands-onexperience,” saidSgt.KalenBolton,anEODtechnicianrepresentingthe71stEOD.
During the June 22 award ceremony,Hatch and McClean were presented theArmyCommendationMedalby20thCBRNECommand leader Brig. Gen. James BonnerandCommandSgt.Maj.KennethGraham.
“Thereisalotofvalueinconductingeventssuch as these,” said Graham. “For thecompetitors, it allows for them to demon-strate their knowledge, skills and abilities aswell as physical stamina and mental capa-bility. For theNCOcadre, it is an opportunityfor them to learn and grow as a leader andtrainer.Finally forme, I value this training for
what it allowsme to see from a holistic standpointofSoldier readiness.”
Each Soldier also received a 20th CBRNECertificate of Achievement “for outstandingperformance andwarrior ethos;” a backpackfilledwithsupplies;acommandcoin;aneaglephoto from the Association of the UnitedStates Army’ Maj. Gen. Harold GreeneAberdeenChapter; andachallengecoin fromtheVeteransCorpsofAmerica.
“This is a hard event to pull off,” Grahamadded, “and we did it extremely well thisyear.”
20th CBRNE Command Soldierscompete for best warrior selectionBy Clemens Gaines20th CBRNE Command
From right, Brig. Gen. James Bonner, commander of the 20th CBRNE Command, congratulates Spc. Michael McClean of the 71st Ord-nance Group (EOD), who was selected as the Soldier of the Year, and Staff Sgt. Brandon Hatch, of the 52nd Ord. Group (EOD), who wasnamed NCO of the Year, as 20th CBRNE Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Graham, command sergeant major, 20th CBRNE Command looks onduring the Best Warrior Competition award ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The two will represent the Command at the U.S.Army Forces Command competition in August.
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY PFC. JAMES WHITAKER, 55TH COMBAT CAMERA
Pvt. Naod Alemayehu, representing the 52nd Ordnance Group (EOD), flips a 120-poundtire during the stress shoot exercise of the 20th CBRNE Command 2018 Best WarriorCompetition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY CLEMENS GAINES, 20TH CBRNE COMMAND
