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***image1***Recently a team of four Soldiers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s 5th Quartermaster Detachment won the 2008 All Army Rigger Rodeo championship at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Winning the championship was a great accomplishment for 5th QM Det. jumpmaster Sgt. Jonathan Christal and parachute riggers Spc. John Herold, Spc. Jonathan Sisk and Pfc. Cruz Celis, since they are the first U.S. Army Europe team to compete and win the event.
In more than four decades of rigger rodeos at Fort Bragg, the trophy has never left the installation and, in all actuality, it still hasn’t. While the 5th QM Det. team was able to take the trophy back to their hotel room after winning the event, they had to give it up again the next day. Now, arrangements are being made to ship it to its rightful home in the KMC.
This year, nine teams participated in the weeklong, multi-event competition, all eager to be named the “Best Rigger Company in the Army.” However, no one was prepared for the riggers of the 21st TSC to fly in and snatch the coveted title away.
“We were totally underestimated. The general attitude was one of ‘okay, you guys enjoy your little trip to the U.S.’ Everyone doubted us, but we were determined,” Specialist Herold said.
The 5th QM Det. is a subordinate unit of the 39th Transportation Battalion and has packing, rigging and maintenance sections. The team members all know each other and every part of their operation. They are cross-trained and have experience working in all facets of their operation.
“We have a large mission, but it’s all underneath one roof,” Sergeant Cristal said. “We get hands-on experience on everything, and we all can work in all the different sections without freezing up.”
Another thing they can do is perform under pressure with little sleep and no alternate team members.
“Because our flight was delayed, we started off without sleep. We put our bags down and changed and just barely made it to the start of the first event – the three-mile rigger run,” Private Celis said.
“Other teams had alternates to switch in and out,” Sergeant Cristal said. “We had the same team throughout the competition. We had a strong, strong team and alternates or not didn’t stop us.”
In addition to the run, the participants had to pack a main parachute and a reserve parachute on day one. On day two, they took the Army Physical Fitness Test, packed a cargo parachute and rigged a container delivery system. Their jump from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was canceled due to inclement weather, but they finished a four-mile road march with a 35-pound rucksack, replaced a parachute patch and spliced a suspension line before taking the written test to complete the competition.
The 5th QM Det. Soldiers also inspired some awe with their determination, physical fitness and camaraderie.
“We had no one cheering us on, no one to distract us. We just completed one task and went on to the next. We were totally focused,” Specialist Sisk said. “We finished the march first, and we finished as a team.”
“They were at the finish line handing out water to the other teams coming in,” said Capt. Josielyn Carrasquillo, 5th QM Det.
commander. “That’s how fit they are. That’s the caliber of Soldiers they are. They were determined to win but compassionate enough to take care of their fellow Soldiers.”
