Cobras compete to be the Best

Echo Company 1st Sgt. Christopher Moreno motivates Pfc. Sharon Douglas as she endures the final leg of the recent “Tough Cobra” event at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. This event was all part of the 1-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion’s “Best Cobra Competition.” (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Daniel J. Baylor)

Cobras compete to be the Best

Published June 5, 2013
By Sgt. Daniel J. Baylor
1-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Task Force Cobra, 1-43 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, hosted the "Best Cobra Competition," a grueling three-day challenge testing several team's physical fitness and mental fortitude to determine who would take the title of "Best Cobra Warrior."

Each team, led by their first sergeant, consisted of one non-commissioned officer and one Soldier from each of the six batteries from Task Force Cobra and one team from Charlie Company's 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion.

Competitors faced both mental and physical tasks including ruck marching, urban orientation, litter carries, combat life saving techniques, weapons assembly, warrior tasks and battle drills and the brutal "Tough Cobra" event. Teams were then placed before a board of senior NCO's, including the Task Force Cobra command sergeant major, the operations sergeant major and seven first sergeants, and the teams were asked a series of questions to test their military knowledge and its application in various situations.

These events, combined with physical training sessions with little time for rest, pushed participants to their very limits.

"These Soldiers know that what they went through was more than just a competition," said Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew T. Gruidl, Task Force Cobra command sergeant major. "It was a learning experience that taught resiliency and enforced the Warrior Ethos."

Taking home the title of "Best Cobra" was Sgt. Valeria Romero and Pvt. Demetrio Cervantes from Team Hyperion, 1-43 ADA Battalion. They were awarded the "Cobra Strike" gold medallion and an impact Army Commendation Medal.