Army cracks down on five-toe running shoes
June 24th, 2011 | Army Gear | Posted by Lance Bacon
All Army Activities message 239/2011 is likely to step on some toes.
It prohibits the wear of shoes that feature “five separate, individual compartments for the toes,” such as the one pictured above. Such shoes “detract from a professional military image,” the message said. As such, soldiers are not allowed to wear them with the individual physical fitness uniform or when conducting physical training in military formation.
In truth, this is not a new rule. But it seems word either hasn’t been spread or adhered to.
Bye bye, beret!
June 16th, 2011 | Army | Posted by Lance Bacon
This is a Drill Sergeant School formation this morning in Fort Jackson, S.C. As roughly three-quarters of the Army entered in the past 10 years, these are images that few active-duty soldiers have seen in their career — a mass of patrol caps with a few berets sprinkled in.
Of roughly 100 soldiers we’ve talked to here, none were upset with the change this week that made the patrol cap the ACU’s official head wear. On the contrary, if the top spots at the Pentagon were determined by election, Gen. Dempsey and SMA Chandler would have a lock on their re-election after making this call.
One problem of note: The rush to have rank insignia sewn on has overwhelmed base and local shops here, and likely elsewhere. As such, you may have to wait for the dust to settle to really be rockin’ the PC old-school style.
AAR — Drill Sergeant of the Year Day 4
June 16th, 2011 | Army Outside the wire TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Staff Sgt. John Heslin, Fort Benning's DSOY, busts out 61 push-ups during the Army Physical Readiness Test Thursday morning. (photo by J. Lee / Army Times)
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — The Drill Sergeant of the Year competition is so tight that all six competitors were within about five points of each other as they entered this final day, officials said.
This final day of competition started with a running of the forthcoming Army Physical Readiness Test, and the results were rather remarkable as the competitors scored well above the averages that have emerged as the Army collects its initial data. And the drill sergeants did this despite a draining tempo that included more than 40 miles of rucking in the previous three days, and only a few hours of sleep each night.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer wins my hard core award for the day. He looked like he was walking atop hot coals after his first standing long jump, as blisters on his left foot had absorbed the full brunt of his landing. After a couple of deep breaths the reservist made his second jump — a whopping 89 and 3/4 inches (just under 7′ 6″). It was better than his first effort, and every other jump of the day.
“We all have put on a bunch of miles, and we all have some hot spots and blisters, but you have to push through,” said Palmer, who described himself as “exhausted, but proud.”
Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski, Fort Jackson’s Drill Sergeant of the Year, pulls a 150-pound "combat casualty" during the Army Combat Readiness Test Thursday morning (photo by J. Lee / Army Times)
Palmer and his fellow competitors, all hurting in some form or fashion, encouraged each other through each event. Staff Sgt. John Heslin, Fort Benning’s Drill Sergeant of the Year, was the first to complete the 1.5-mile run at 10:28. Instead of taking the time to recover, he went back and cheered the others through the finish, even running alongside the final competitor for the last 300 yards.
The competitors then moved to the forthcoming combat readiness test. If the APRT measured fitness, the ACRT measured heart as the drill sergeants conducted casualty drags, ammo can shuffles and the like.
One observer with a careful eye on each competitor was Maj. Gen. Richard Longo, who heads up Initial Military Training. The next DSOY will come to work for him at TRADOC.
“I’m really impressed with all six of these drill sergeants,” said Longo, who shouted encouragement as each event unfolded. “When you think of what they’ve been through in the past three days, and still they come out here do better than the average soldier, it’s pretty impressive. It’s a demonstration of heart. When I think of a drill sergeant, I absolutely think of competence. But I also think of this passion and heart that makes them the very best sergeants we have in our Army.”
Indeed, back-to-back fitness tests challenged their fortitude, but the day wasn’t done. The final event was a command sergeants major board in service uniform — and that can be as grueling as any fitness test.
The day will end with a much-deserved barbeque in about an hour and a half. The winner will be announced at a o900 ceremony … stay tuned and we’ll post the results as soon as they are announced.
AAR — Drill Sergeant of the Year Day 3
June 15th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
From left, Staff Sgts. Felicia Frailey, Benjamin Facio, John Heslin and Jasper Kohoutek recover after completing the Confidence Course Wednesday morning. (Photo by Lance M. Bacon / Army Times)
FORT JACKSON, S.C. – And so the teachers have become the students.
“One and a wake-up,” a gasping Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski told her fellow competitors after completing the Confidence Course. The statement is a familiar countdown used by trainees that identifies the training days remaining before they wake up and graduate.
Like the trainees they typically lead, the six competitors hit the ground running this morning after only a few hours of sleep. Without any idea of what the day held, they started with a land navigation course that required each individual find seven points covering four miles in fewer than three hours. At the end, more than 15 Confidence Course obstacles awaited their arrival.
By mid-afternoon, the drill sergeants saddled up with a 60-pound ruck and hit an “urban orienteering” test cycle of more than a dozen challenges spread over nine miles. There, they identified and dealt with IEDs, treated a sucking chest wound and conducted a nine-line medevac. They also they trainees to move in a fire team, enter and clear a room and properly don the gas mask and various MOPP components.
Physically exhausted, the evening culminated with mentally draining tests and essays.
From left, Staff Sgts. Benjamin Facio and Jasper Kohoutek ruck 60 pounds of gear on a nine-mile "urban orienteering" training circuit Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by J. Lee / Army Times).
While the six soldiers vying to be Drill Sergeant of the Year have only one day of competition remaining, it will demand everything they’ve got – but they’ve got each other.
Without sounding like a sappy commercial for the soft hits of the ’70s, this group is showing remarkable camaraderie. They are not trying to best each other, but instead help each other bring out their best. They are encouraging, congratulating and leaning on one another at every turn.
Indeed, if soldiers desire to see the unity required for an Army of One, they need only pay a visit to the DSOY competition.
DSOY Competitors — Staff Sgt. Palmer
June 15th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Outside the Wire will feature profiles (in alphabetical order) of the six Drill Sergeant of the Year contenders this week. The competitors, which include four active-duty soldiers and two reservists, will be evaluated as they tackle more than 50 physically and emotionally challenging events. The winners will be announced Friday.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer is one of two reservists in this year’s competition. The Milwaukee native joined the Army in 1997.
“It’s an honor to be here to represent my division as Drill Segeant of the Year,” he said. “I look forward to the competition because it is sure to drive us to be our best.”
The infantryman said leading troops in physical training will prove most challenging because the reserve units don’t do that every day as do their active-duty counterparts. He is counting on his knowledge of warrior tasks to close that gap.
A veteran of Iraq and relief efforts in Haiti, Palmer currently serves with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 518th Regiment at Hickory, N.C. He also has served at Fort Bragg, N.C.
DSOY competitors — Staff Sgt. Kohoutek
June 15th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Outside the Wire will feature profiles (in alphabetical order) of the six Drill Sergeant of the Year contenders this week. The competitors, which include four active-duty soldiers and two reservists, will be evaluated as they tackle more than 50 physically and emotionally challenging events. The winners will be announced Friday.
Staff Sgt. Jasper Kohoutek is one of two reservists competing in this year’s competition. The Post Falls, Idaho, native joined the Army in 2003.
“I’m honored to be here,” Kohoutek said. “This is a good opportunity to learn from the wealth of knowledge these senior drill sergeants bring.”
The infantryman said his toughest challenges will be in modules and leading physical readiness training “because reservists don’t do that every day.” He looks to make up the difference in in warrior tasks and weaponry.
A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, Kohoutek is assigned to the 95th Division in Spokane, Wash. He also served at Fort Bragg, N.C.
DSOY — Pushed to the limit … and beyond
June 15th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer negotiates a low crawl under barbed wire Wednesday morning during the Army's Drill Sergeant of the Year competition. He is one of two reservists competing. (Photo by J. Lee / Army Times)
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — Most people would roll over and go back to sleep if they woke up at 0230. But the six soldiers vying to be the Army’s next Drill Sergeant of the Year aren’t “most people.”
They rolled out of the rack to tackle a land navigation course. The goal was to find seven points covering four miles in less than three hours. And there was no pot of gold awaiting them at the end of this rainbow. Instead, it was the Confidence Course.
The competitors had to successfully negotiate more than 15 obstacles. If they failed at one, they had one more chance to knock it out. Fail a second time, and you are rolling goose eggs on the score card.
The strenuous, nonstop pace of this four-day competition was evident as the drill sergeants dug deep to push through.
“I’m truly exhausted,” said Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski. “Just whooped.”
But Goscinski, Fort Jackson’s Drill Sergeant of the Year, said the competition has shown her that she can push herself “farther and harder” than she ever imagined. And in the mean time, she isn’t letting the pounding pace or tough competition get the best of her. Instead, she is taking it one step at a time.
“I’m not worried about the competition,” she said. “I’m just focused on the task I’m doing. I don’t have enough energy to worry about the competition.”
The competition concludes Thursday night, with the winner announced Friday morning.
Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski streched Wednesday morning after completing a seven-point land nav course followed by the Confidence Course. She is Fort Jackson's DSOY. (Photo by Lance M. Bacon / Army Times)
Staff Sgt. Felicia Frailey negotiates the "Wall Hanger" Wednesday morning on the Confidence Course. She is Fort Sill's DSOY. (Photo by Lance M. Bacon / Army Times)
Staff Sgt. John Heslin carefuly crawls through barbed wire Wednesday morning during a run of the Confidence Course. Heis Fort Benning's DSOY. (photo by Lance M. Bacon / Army Times)
Staff Sgt. Jasper Kohoutek negotiates ""The Weaver" Wednesday morning on the Confidence Course. He is one of two reservists competing. (Photo by J. Lee / Army Times)
AAR — Drill Sergeant of the Year Day Two
June 15th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer identifies grenades Tuesday during the Drill Sergeant of the Year competition. He is one of two reservists competing. (Photo by J. Lee / Army Times)
FORT JACKSON, S.C. — Day Two was a day of strengths and weaknesses.
Most drill sergeants are subject matter experts in one or two areas. That is not to say they are ignorant in the others, but their knowledge in those is more general. Then, when the drill team comes together, they lean on one another to provide trainees the best possible instruction.
But there are no teams out here.
As such, the chinks in the armor is starting to show. Those who are strong in PT and drilling ceremonies had to show their weaponry mettle — and for those strong in weaponry, Day Two was their chance to shine.
Competitors had to zero the M16, engage targets with the M249 and M240, and dissasemble/reassemble and conduct a function check of the machine guns.
The M240 shoot proved troublesome for two competitors. Told to load the weapon in accordance with all safety procedures, they pulled the bolt back, put the rounding in sunny side down and slammed the tray … and were told to exit the firing line. The error was their failure to visually and physically inspect the chamber to ensure it was clear.
Identifying various unmarked grenades proved tricky, as well. All correctly identified the frag and smoke. Chemical, incendiary and high smoke tended to get jumbled.
Despite the lack of sleep, the constant high pace has not diminished the competitors’ strength or spirit.
“it’s been vigorous, but it is put together very well,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew Palmer, one of the Reserve’s two competitors. “There have been challenges, but you just press through and get to the next event.”
DSOY competitors — Staff Sgt. Heslin
June 14th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Outside the Wire will feature profiles (in alphabetical order) of the six Drill Sergeant of the Year contenders this week. The competitors, which include four active-duty soldiers and two reservists, will be evaluated as they tackle more than 50 physically and emotionally challenging events. The winners will be announced Friday.
Staff Sgt. John Heslin is Fort Benning’s Drill Sergeant of the Year. The Baltimore native joined the Army in 2004.
“It is an honor to be here representing Fort Benning and meeting the other competitors,” he said. “It’s also a good opportunity to get some good competition between the posts.”
The fire support specialist said his strengths include land navigation, weaponry and warrior tasks. Though modules and boards are his weakest points, Heslin said “lots of preparation” has boosted his confidence.
A two-time Iraq veteran, Heslin served as part of Task Force Cobra and Task Force Mountain. He also has served at Fort Hood, Texas.
DSOY competitors — Staff Sgt. Goscinski
June 14th, 2011 | Army TRADOC | Posted by Lance Bacon
Outside the Wire will feature profiles (in alphabetical order) of the six Drill Sergeant of the Year contenders this week. The competitors, which include four active-duty soldiers and two reservists, will be evaluated as they tackle more than 50 physically and emotionally challenging events. The winners will be announced Friday.
Staff Sgt. Samantha Goscinski is Fort Jackson’s Drill Sergeant of the Year. The Seattle native enlisted in 2003.
“It’s pretty amazing that the Army holds a competition like this each year,” she said. “It builds esprit de corps within drill sergeant community, and drives us to become better.”
The military police dog handler is no stranger to competition. She was honor graduate of the Patrol Dog Handler Course and has twice won military working dog competitions.
The Afghanistan veteran said modules are her strong suit, while combatives may prove her toughest obstacle.
Goscinski has also served in South Korea and Germany.