FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Joshua Gibson, with 62nd Sapper Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, swims while dragging a 150-pound raft Nov. 28, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition at the Iron Horse Physical Fitness Center pool on Fort Carson. This year’s competition included nine, two-person teams from units across the installation. The top three teams will compete in the Armywide Best Sapper Competition in April 2019. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
By Sgt. Asa Bingham
14th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Lt. Dustin St. Arnaud, with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, jumps to reach the end of an obstacle Nov. 29, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition at Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
FORT CARSON, Colo. —A loud splash shatters the early-morning still waters of the Iron Horse Physical Fitness Center pool.
Competitors of the 2018 Fort Carson Best Sapper competition thrash and pull their way through the water, dragging a 150-pound poncho raft 300 meters.
And this is only the beginning.
The two-day competition held Nov. 28-29 included nine, two-person combat engineer teams from units across the installation, all competing to move forward to the Armywide Best Sapper Competition in April at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
“The goal was to identify the top three teams from the (4th Infantry) Division that will compete and represent the division at the Armywide Best Sapper Competition,” said Maj. Benjamin Washkowiak, engineer, 4th Inf. Div. “We also wanted to see the competitors dig deep and not give up, so we wanted to push them to the point that they were ready to give up, but they knew they could continue.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Lt. Dustin St. Arnaud, left, and Sgt. Garrett Foskitt, with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, swim 300 meters through the water with 150-pound poncho raft during the Best Sapper Competition Nov. 28, 2018, at the Iron Horse Physical Fitness Center pool on Fort Carson. The competition included nine, two-person teams from units across Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
The event was modeled on what the competitors are likely to face at the Armywide competition. Some of the events included: a nonstandard Army physical fitness test, demolition and sapper proficiency test, stress shoot, obstacle course, foot march, land navigation, and an urban breaching and demolition lane.
“The main importance of doing one of these competitions is to see where your skill level is at on these topics,” said 2nd Lt. James Rowan, a competitor from the 4th Engineer Battalion.
“It’s a little bit of bragging rights.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Lt. Jeremy Matsumoto and Capt. Erwin Marciniak, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, drag a 200-pound Skedco stretcher uphill Nov. 29, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
By the second morning of the competition, with the end in sight and temperatures below freezing, the six remaining teams of sappers stepped off for the final leg of the competition.
1st Sgt. Joshua Pagan, a competitor from the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., said leading from the front was his motivation to compete. That mentality pushed him to overcome the hardships of the competition. With physical and mental anguish evident on his face, he slowly shuffled to one of the last stations.
By the end of day two, the competitors had traveled a total distance of 40 miles over the course of 36 hours. Exhausted and beaten down, the six teams crossed the finish line at Iron Horse Park with their units cheering them on. The final scores were tallied, and the winners were announced.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Staff Sgt. Levi McGowan, left, and 2nd Lt. Bryan Tanguay, with Bravo Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, ruck march to their next event Nov. 28, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition at Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
First place: 1st Lt. Dustin St. Arnaud and Sgt. Garrett Foskitt, with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
Second place: Sgt. Dylan Ledbetter and 1st Sgt. Joshua Pagan, with Alpha Company, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd ABCT
Third place: 1st Lt. Jeremy Matsumoto and Capt. Erwin Marciniak, with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 2nd Lt. James Rowan, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, yells out “fire in the hole” and triggers an explosive charge on a door Nov. 28, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition at Fort Carson. The top three teams will compete in the Armywide Best Sapper Competition in April at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — 2nd Lt. James Rowan, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, yells out “fire in the hole” and triggers an explosive charge on a door Nov. 28, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition at Fort Carson. The top three teams will compete in the Armywide Best Sapper Competition in April at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Staff Sgt. Levi McGowan, with Bravo Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, jumps to reach the end of an obstacle Nov. 29, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Dylan Ledbetter, with Alpha Company, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fires his rifle Nov. 29, 2018, during the stress shoot event as part of the Best Sapper Competition at Fort Carson. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Dylan Ledbetter, with Alpha Company, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, ties knots and explains the purpose Nov. 29, 2018, during the Best Sapper Competition. (Photo by Sgt. Asa Bingham)