Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson, pins an Army Commendation Medal on Staff Sgt. Jerry Mytides, tank commander, Company A, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., during a ceremony at Fort Carson May 9, 2016, as Command Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Crosby, left, looks on. Gonsalves honored the four-man Company A tank crew for finishing third in the Sullivan Cup held May 2-6, 2016, at Fort Benning, Ga. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Grady T. Jones)
By Capt. Shaun T. Manley
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT BENNING, Ga. — A tank crew from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, earned third place in the Sullivan Cup held May 2-6, 2016, at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The Sullivan Cup is a five-day competition that allows the best 16 tank crews in the Army the opportunity to compete to be named the Army’s best. The competition is held every two years with active-duty, Reserve and National Guard crews battling for bragging rights.
“I am extremely proud of how well these young men competed and represented our division and installation,” said Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, Fort Carson and 4th Inf. Div.
The team representing the Mountain Post in this year’s Sullivan Cup was Staff Sgt. Jerry Mytides, tank commander; Sgt. Everardo Araujo, gunner; Spc. Jesus Garcia, loader; and Spc. Tyler Lera, driver, all assigned to Company A, 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg.
“Our team has been working together for just over a year, and we work extremely well together,” said Mytides. “It was a complete honor to compete and represent our battalion, brigade and division with my team.”
The Sullivan Cup features multiple events that include the armor crewman proficiency test, the tank situational training exercise, a crew live-fire event and a crew shoot-off event. Once these events are completed, the top four teams conduct a shoot-off event to determine the winning team.
“The Sullivan Cup is a very fast-paced competition,” said Araujo. “The days went by extremely fast (and) kept us busy, but we enjoyed every minute of it.”
The 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg., team competed fiercely against the other 15 teams and finished the competition in third place.
“We are thankful for all the leaders throughout our unit who helped get us to this level of proficiency to compete in this competition,” said Lera. “The competition was challenging as all of the teams were the best their divisions had.”
An official ceremony was held May 6, 2016, at Fort Benning where the top three crews were recognized and awarded at the Ironworks, Georgia, Convention and Trade Center. Gonsalves presented the “Silver Lions” team with Army Commendation Medals during a ceremony at Fort Carson May 9, 2016.
“You were up against other great tank crews and did a remarkable job,” Gonsalves told the crew Monday. “I couldn’t ask any more of you than to do your job, do it well and be happy with doing it … and that’s just what you did.”
Lera’s father, Mark Lera, who also served in 1st Bn., 68th Armor Reg., when he was a tanker on active duty with Company 6, was in attendance at the Sullivan Cup competition to cheer on his son and the Fort Carson team.
This year’s Sullivan Cup winning team is assigned to 1st Battalion, 252nd Armor Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard.
Araujo said that all of the teams were professionals and just as competitive as his team.
“It was an honor to be surrounded by so many great teams from active duty and National Guard units and even a team from Canada,” said Araujo. “I am proud of the winning team and hope to compete against them again at the next Sullivan Cup.”