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JB MDL members compete to become service member of the year

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Martyn
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. --  The second annual Joint Base Service Member of the Year Competition was held here June 28-29.
        
The Joint Base SMOY Competition took place over two days and tested competitors in a series of physical and mental challenges to determine the winner.
    
Contestants from each military branch were separated into four different categories: junior enlisted, NCOs, senior NCOs and company grade officers.          
    
The first day's events began with a joint physical fitness assessment, with Air Force style pushups, Marine Corps style pullups, Navy style situps and a 2-mile run that ensured fairness between the competitors from each branch.
     
"Watching someone crank out 95 pushups in one minute, I mean, oh my gosh," said Senior Master Sgt. Eric DuPriest, 87th Air Base Wing inspector general superintendent. "It was inspiring to see the effort these guys and gals were putting out."
   
After the physical fitness test, the contestants competed in a 3.5-mile ruck march, self-aid buddy care involving first-aid procedures that included a tourniquet on a training mannequin under simulated fire, an Army obstacle course, a Navy agility course and basic-rifle qualification on a virtual firing range.

From each event to the next, each competitor had little time to rest.

"I think after the first day they were tired," said Chief Petty Officer Raymond Rizzo, 87th Force Support Squadron lead chief petty officer. "That was a grueling physical first day."

On the second day, the competitors took a 100-question test developed by senior leaders on general military knowledge and addressed a board of senior NCOs or field-grade officers, depending on the competitor's category.

"A well-rounded individual has to be able to perform the mental side of the competition," Rizzo said. "During the mental portion, you have to be key-on."

Initially, the different branches may have kept to themselves in the competition, but that didn't last long.

"As the day progressed, they were cheering each other on," said DuPriest. "They were supportive of each other."

Both DuPriest and Rizzo seemed thrilled by the cooperation between the different branches during the event.

"At the end of the day, everyone in uniform is a brother and sister," Rizzo said. "I enjoyed seeing that."

Plans for next year's competition involve a widening of the competition pool to include National Guardsman, reservists and Coast Guard members.