Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 99 Apr. 14, 2012
Warhorse Soldiers honor fallen through physical competition Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagán 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
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hen Soldiers die in combat they not only leave grieving families but also their brothers and sisters in arms. Honoring fallen comrades can manifest through various outlets: building memorials, getting tattoos or wearing bracelets. One Soldier decided to honor the fallen Soldiers from the Warhorse brigade through motivation and sweat. Staff Sgt. Casey McEuin, the futureoperations noncommissioned officer in charge with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, organized the Warhorse Challenge held at Camp Nathan Smith, April 08. “We have lost great Soldiers and I want them to be more than a memory,” said McEuin. “Above everything else, I wanted people to have selfless service and sacrifice their blood, sweat and tears for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.” The challenge, designed by McEuin,
consisted of five events: 20 wall balls, 20 pull-ups and 10 toes-to-bar, 20 burpee box jumps, 15 deadlifts and a 200 meter tire carry with two laps ran between each station totaling a five kilometer run. Each exercise event was dedicated to fallen Soldiers, whose pictures were visible at the station as motivation for competing Soldiers to work through the physical pain. “No matter how tired we were, seeing pictures of Josh and Drew (two of the fallen Soldiers) helped me and my team push through,” said Capt. Ashley Russell, the officer in charge of female engagement teams. “This was our little way of giving back to two guys who gave up everything for us.” “I wanted (the fallen Soldiers) to be the motivation to finish each event which is what happened,” McEuin said. “Nobody quit and nobody gave up.” “It was my honor to participate, not get lapped, and watch everybody finish,” said Col. John S. Kolasheski, the brigade commander. “I think it was a phenomenal event
and I appreciate everybody’s participation and everybody’s motivation, in particular because we are honoring our fallen heroes.” The challenge was open to everyone within the brigade. Teams consisted of five members with at least one woman. A total of 27 teams participated from all across the brigade and one team included an Afghan partner. “I was proud to have (Afghan National Security Force) partners attend to honor our Soldiers,” McEuin said. “His presence shed light on the fact that we are sacrificing together.” “It was my honor to compete and show that we are strong together as a team,” said 2nd Sgt. Qutubullah with the 2nd Brigade Afghan National Civil Order Police. “I think it’s pretty exciting for all of us to come together,” said 1st Lt. Thomas Olmstead, a platoon leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., and a member of the winning team who came from the Arghandab to
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Warhorse Pride
Team Fisticuffs, with 561st Military Police Company, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., perform the wall ball exercise. To perform a wall ball the Soldier must squat down past the 90 degree plane then stand up throwing a weighted ball 10 feet high against the wall. Each team member had to complete 20 wall balls with weighted balls ranging from 6.6 pounds to 25 pounds. Team Junior Hooligans, with the 58th Military Police Company, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., perform burpee box jumps. To complete the exercise the Soldier would jump down, do a push-up, then jump up placing both feet fully onto a box. Each set consisted of 20 burpee box jumps. Teams of Soldiers with 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., started eight minutes apart during the competition, so while one team is running part of their 5 kilometers, another team struggles to carry the tire 200 meters.
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAO Sgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOIC Sgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and Design Sgt. April York.........................................Layout and Design
Issue 99 Apr. 14, 2012
Staff Sgt. Christopher Stricklin, the assistant operations sergeant with 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., performs a pull up during the Warhorse Challenge. Each team member had to complete 20 assisted or non-assisted pull-ups and 10 toes-to-bar. Teams were judged on time and could not move onto the next event until all five members of the team were complete. Team KFC, with 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., performs deadlifts. The Soldiers face pictures of two of their fallen comrades as inspiration and motivation to not quit during the competition. The challenge was designed to honor the Soldiers the brigade had lost during its deployment.
compete. “We are all spread out but we were able to make a day of it, come here to participate and support each other.” The event not only honored fallen Soldiers it also allowed for friendly competition. “For me, the most amazing part of the competition was the spirit in which everyone performed,” said Sgt. 1st Class Spencer Polwort, the fire support NCOIC for the brigade. “At each station, everyone was taking a moment to remem-
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public
ber those who are no longer with us, and who paid the ultimate sacrifice. It made you even more proud to serve with these heroes, and to push even harder.” “Every team that competed showed nothing but motivation and teamwork,” said Sgt. Maria Johnson, a paralegal with the brigade. “It was not a matter of crossing the finish line first, it was a matter of crossing the finish line together: no one gets left behind nor forgotten.”
Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook. com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor: seth.barham@afghan.swa.army.mil