Soldiers from 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), participate in the Army Ammunition Transfer Holding Point Team of the Year competition at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Clockwise from top: Sgt. Brian Nelson organizes ammunition canisters during the occupy and defend scenario, while Spc. Rachel Hersey and Pfc. Fellisia Young, stretch concertina wire around an area, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffrey Springer and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Tull strap down ammunition canisters for ground transport. The team from Fort Drum finished second in the competition, which assesses Soldiers on ATHP operations and associated tasks that facilitate the receipt and transfer of ammunition in a tactical environment. (Photos by Dani Johnson, Combined Arms Support Command Public Affairs)
10th Sustainment Brigade Ammunitions Team places second in Armywide competition
Sgt. Brandon Cox
10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Sept. 19, 2019) – The Support Operations section from the 10th Headquarters and Special Troops Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI) sent a team of five Soldiers to the weeklong Army Ammunition Transfer Holding Point (ATHP) Team of the Year competition, which began Sept. 9 at Fort Pickett, Virginia.
The competition assesses Soldiers from across the Army on ATHP operations and associated tasks that facilitate the receipt and transfer of ammunition in a tactical environment.
“Mainly the purpose of the competition is to test our knowledge of ATHP operations in a technical and physical aspect,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffrey Springer, 10th Mountain Division ammunition manager and leader for the team.
Teams had to complete such events as the Army Combat Fitness Test, day and night land navigation, sling-load operations, a 12-mile ruck march, and establishing and defending an ATHP.
“Defending the ATHP was the most challenging thing for me,” said Pfc. Fellisia Young, an ammunition stock control and accounting specialist (89A). “We were given a scenario to take over another unit’s ATHP, and in the midst of getting it in order, we started taking direct fire and had to defend our position from the enemy. It was 92 degrees that day, in full body armor and mask, so it was challenging, but it was fun.”
Having joined the Army only six months ago, Young had an opportunity to use her knowledge on a new program in a critical moment in the competition.
“Young was one of my 89As who really showed her knowledge on the new Standard Army Ammunition System - Web (SAAS-Web),” Springer said. “Without that knowledge, we wouldn’t have figured out how to store more ammunition in the system and would have stopped our progress in the competition.”
“It was finally something that I knew how to do well and I was able to take charge of it,” Young added.
The scores were tallied as the competition came to a close. The team, including Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Tull, Sgt. Brian Nelson and Spc. Rachel Hersey, placed second overall by a close margin to the 75th Ranger Regiment team from Fort Benning, Georgia.
“When you come in second in the entire U.S. Army, we are considered some of the best when it comes to ammunition operations,” Springer said. “Our team did outstanding and never gave up, so I can’t complain about that.”