Four Ohio Army National Guard Sappers — Pvt. Zachery Meyer (center with plaques, from left), Pvt. Michael Willis, Pvt. John Bystrek and Pfc. Christopher Kline — from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, endured 24 hours to win the Bull Dog Battalion Best Sapper Competition, July 31-Aug. 1 at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind. (Ohio National Guard photo) |
CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. (8/1/2012) — The 216th Engineer Battalion held its second annual Best Sapper Competition July 31-Aug. 1. The competition consisted of 12 events and continued for 24 hours straight over two days. Various engineer skills and Army Warrior Tasks were part of the grueling contest to determine which of the 12 teams would win.
Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, as well as the 811th and 812th Engineer Companies competed, and the winners — Pvt. Zachery Meyer, Pvt. Michael Willis, Pvt. John Bystrek and Pfc. Christopher Kline of HHC, 216th — had all graduated from advanced individual training within the last nine months. Each winning Soldier earned an Army Achievement Medal, plaque, engraved knife and battalion t-shirt.
“The team told me they won because they were just following orders, I’m proud that they not only competed but won against teams older and more experienced then them,” said Capt. Stephen Smay, commander of HHC, 216th.
 The competition consisted of several challenging events:
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non-standard physical fitness test, which included a Humvee pull;
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10-minute swim and 5-minute float/water tread;
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50-question written test;
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Army Warrior Tasks-based scenario;
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demolitions calculation/placement-road crater;
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calculation/placement-timber cutting;
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weapons assembly/functions check (M240B machine gun, M249 light machine gun, M4 rifle and M9 pistol);
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route recon mission;
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night land navigation course;
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air assault obstacle course;
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6-mile road march; and
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commander’s lanes
a. buddy team mine field and trip wire negotiation
b. Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) tire flip
c. M113 armored personnel carrier water can load
d. four-Soldier log saw
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