FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, walk to their final event during the “This is My Squad” competition March 10, 2020. Squads with 2nd IBCT tested their ability to work together as a team to accomplish various tasks to highlight the initiative launched by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)
By Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Shawn Sullivan Jr., left, with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assists in assembling an M249 machine gun during the competition March 10, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, competed in the brigade’s “This is My Squad” competition March 10, 2020.
“The brigade initiated the (competition) in support of Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston’s initiative to get after cohesive teams and ownership of a leader’s elements,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Steve R. Chandler Jr., senior enlisted leader, 2nd IBCT. “In this case it was squads; we had nine-Soldier squads competing in a multitude of events.”
This is the first time the brigade held the event, which was hosted by 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd IBCT.
“Each battalion provided a squad to see who is the best in the brigade,” said Sgt. 1st Class Justin McBride, operations assistant NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg., 2nd IBCT. “We created events based on skill-level one tasks and a mystery event to determine the winner.”
The squads worked together to complete the tasks to win a trophy for their battalion all while navigating approximately 6 miles on foot with their assigned weapons, plated vests and combat helmets.
All tasks culminated in the final mystery event: a test of basic rifleman marksmanship. Squads fired their weapons at the range and collectively determined which of them could achieve the most hits.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. Steve R. Chandler Jr., left, senior enlisted leader, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, presents a Soldier with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd IBCT, with a brigade challenge coin March 10, 2020, for his team’s victory in the “This is My Squad” competition. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)
After a long day, a winner was determined.
“The first-place winner was the 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion,” Chandler said. “They were super pumped and excited from the very beginning and maintained that high morale throughout the event.”
The competition is expected to be held quarterly and hosted by the winning battalion.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Command Sgt. Maj. Steve R. Chandler Jr., senior enlisted leader, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, addresses the brigade Soldiers during the “This is My Squad” competition March 10, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Pvt. Jacob Babineau, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, waits for further instruction after donning his M50 gas mask during a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear test at the competition March 10, 2020. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Edmond Johnson, right, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, identifies terrain features commonly found on military maps as leaders from the brigade observe, March 10, 2020, during the competition. (Photo by Sgt. Gabrielle Weaver)