An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 29, 2019

NY Soldiers, Airmen represent US at South African contest

By Lt. Col. Al Phillips New York National Guard

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa – Ten New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen endured five intense days of shooting, negotiating land and water obstacles, grenade-throwing and a four-mile combat run during the South African Defence Force Military Skills Competition Oct. 21-26.

The competition, held annually since 2006, is open to members of reserve components from other nations as well as South African active duty military members and reservists.

Along with the New York National Guard contingent, teams came from the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Federal Republic of Germany.

There were also all-male and all-female teams from the Army’s 108th Military Police Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

By midweek, the Guard Soldiers and Airmen who made up half the American team were finding their stride and placing points on the board, with notable successes on the pistol and rifle ranges.

The New York National Guard, which has a state partnership program relationship with South Africa, last took part in the competition in 2003.

The New York National Guard team members got word about the competition just two months out and had no time to train, according to Master Sgt. Cole Shebat, the Air Guard team coach.

By comparison, the British and German teams got a year to get ready for the event.

The Americans, though, thought they were still holding their own.

“We all had the right mindset coming into this competition. We are here to be consistent, focused and score,” said Army Guard Sgt. 1st Class Martin Cozens.

With temperatures hitting 95 degrees during the day, the New York Guard Soldiers and Airmen said they stressed hydration and maintaining energy.

Some of the obstacles were especially challenging, particularly the water obstacles.

The Americans prepared for that with their training, said Air Guard Tech Sgt. Justin Murphy.

“We took the opportunity before coming here to improve our breathing techniques and build our upper body strength – both chest and shoulders – to really develop an organized approach to competing during the obstacle course,” Murphy said.

When it was all over, the Germans won the competition among the foreign teams. But the Americans said it was all worthwhile.

The New Yorkers wanted to win, but the competition was about more than just scoring points, Shebat said. The Soldiers and Airmen “had a blast,” Shebat said.

The competition was a great opportunity to continue building the State Partnership the New York National Guard and South African National Defence Force have had for 16 years, the New Yorkers said.

The South Africans treated their visitors to a “braai,” which is the South African version of a barbecue with lots of meats, homebrewed beer and a performance by traditional Tswana dancers.

“Being at the cultural event was a really cool experience and added value of traveling here to South Africa,” said Army Guard Sgt. 1st Class Brendon Mavra.

“These experiences introduce you to the culture and gives you a memory for life,” added New York Army National Guard Sgt. Jonathan Patton.

“I can tell you, being in this competition and grudging out the different events and breaking bread with others at the cultural event is what we as Soldiers want. It’s a different element, and I personally think this is the best opportunity for retention,” Mavra added.

Command Sgt. Major Marc Maynard, the coach for the New York team, said he was looking forward to coming back.

“Competition is an excellent training tool that naturally encourages participants to excel at their best. The South Africans have done an excellent job hosting this event, which trains and tests a broad spectrum of basic military skills,” he said.

“We look forward to returning and continuing to build our partnership, he added.

 

 

Related Articles
Airmen from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing don protective gear as part of a training inject during February Exercise 2025 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Florida, Jan. 31, 2025. FEBEX 25 is a comprehensive, multi-faceted annual training event planned and executed by the 202nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadron.
FEBEX 25 Prepares Air National Guard for Global Challenges
By Maj. Cammy Alberts, | Feb. 6, 2025
CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. - Approximately 250 Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen participated in a rigorous three-day exercise to test their readiness for global contingencies. The Jan. 30-Feb. 1...

Crew chiefs assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, and Airmen assigned to the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, escort simulated casualty patients to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a joint training exercise at the Glenwood Training Area in Oklahoma City, Jan. 28, 2025. During the exercise, combat medics from the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, practiced patient stabilization, MEDEVAC calls and loading procedures while coordinating with the OKARNG pilots conducting helicopter insertions in austere environments.
Oklahoma Guard, Air Force Conduct Joint MEDEVAC Training
By Cpl. Danielle Rayon, | Feb. 5, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY - Airmen from the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, teamed up with Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 90th Troop Command for a joint...

Alaska Army National Guard Col. Michele Edwards and Command Sgt. Maj. Russel Throckmorton, the commander and command sergeant major of the 297th Regional Support Group, case the unit colors during a deployment ceremony at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Jan. 24, 2025. The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th RSG, will deploy approximately 80 Guardsmen on a nine-month mission to Eastern Europe to support U.S. Army Europe and Africa’s Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce.
Alaska Guard Deploys to Eastern Europe to Support NATO Allies
By Staff Sgt. Seth LaCount, | Feb. 4, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The Alaska Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 297th Regional Support Group, will deploy about 80 Guardsmen to Eastern Europe for nine months to support the...