GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. - The Florida Army National Guard is not known for its strong Scottish traditions, but a team of Soldiers from the Daytona-based 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, are hoping to change that.
Soldiers from the unit competed in the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival, Feb. 24, in Green Cove Springs, Fla., testing their mettle in seven traditional Scottish athletic events. The events included: throwing 28-pound and 56-pound weights for distance, tossing a 22-pound "Stone of Strength" and flipping an 18-foot wooden "caber" pole.
Although not required for competition, the Guardsmen wore military-print kilts and red National Guard shirts during these tests of strength.
"It's pretty addictive," Staff Sgt. Tim Forrester, who organized the Florida National Guard team, explained. "Once you pick up one of the weights you just kind of go with it."
Forrester traces his roots to medieval Scotland, but this is the first year he competed in the highland games. He plans to continue competing in similar events throughout Florida with his fellow Guardsmen rather than joining an established team made up of others from "Clan Forrester."
"Even though I'm a Forrester, the Guard's my family too," he said.
He finished first in his division during these most recent games.
Forrester's kilt was made from the Army's new digital print camouflage, while the rest of his team wore kilts fashioned from traditional Army camouflage and the U.S. Army's official tartan print.
Staff Sgt. Rich Chamberlain won both the 56-pound weight toss and "Stone of Strength" events during his first competition tries, crediting his wins to his style rather than brawn.
"Technique is more important than strength here," he noted.