Story and photo Sgt. Kelly Malone
Special to GUIDON

What began in June is about to be tested for three Soldiers from the 512th Military Police Company, 92nd Military Police Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, as their training is complete and they are ready to take on the Warfighter competition beginning Saturday. Their commitment to bring home the win for the Titans follows three months of intensive train-up under the watchful eyes of a Warfighter veteran.

Staff Sgt. Russell Hartman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 512th MP Co. military police officer, is the training leader, coach and sponsor for the three-man team competing in Warfighter this coming week.

Hartman says he has two Warfighter competitions behind him with a third place finish in 2011.

“In 2009, I was exhausted,” Hartman said. “When I crossed the finish line, it was great . . . I didn’t care what place . . .but last year the whole sense was to at least get in the top three, and we got third place.”

The team consists of Spc. Fredrick King, of Yadkinville, N.C, Sgt. Daniel Henson, of Springhill, Fla., and Pfc. Michael Staunton, from Brigantine, N.J.  All are from 512th MP Co. and all are military police Soldiers that were selected by their senior enlisted leadership to compete in the 2012 Warfighter.

Staunton says he has only been out of initial training for about three months.

“My first sergeant asked me because I always had a good (physical training) score in basic,” Staunton said. “I couldn’t really say no, but it was kind of cool once I got into it.”

All three team members say this is their first Warfighter competition.

“We don’t know what to expect, we don’t have a set plan,” King said.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Staunton added. “The ruck march is going to be scary, 90 miles or whatever it is.”

“During the entire Warfighter competition, historically, the distance we cover running and marching is usually about 70 to 75 miles in four days,” explains Henson.

“We are very well prepared, and we’re going to do very good this year. We are lucky to have (Hartman) as our sponsor because he has a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience,” Henson added.

Hartman says the actual events in the competition remain a secret until the teams begin each event. As a result, he said he has been running his team through many different types of training to include ruck marches, weapons training, obstacle and team-building courses.

The team has completed 10 to 15 ruck marches. They have done 15 miles a couple of times, 12-miles, a 10, 9 and several shorter distance marches, Hartman said.

“I’ve had the team do repelling, obstacles courses, several ranges,” Hartman continued. “They’ve practiced (combat lifesaving), swimming, taking apart and putting back together several weapons blindfolded.”

“We’ve done the M4, M9, M249, and the Mark 19 blindfolded,” King said.

This is a full time commitment and all the units here on Fort Leonard Wood have been very helpful, Henson said.

Hartman, who in earlier competitions had to train up in Korea, said training at Fort Leonard Wood was a home field advantage.

“There is nothing as good as the training here,” said Hartman.  “This is like the motherland for the competition and this is where it is (held) so you can’t go wrong with training here.”

Hartman says he wants to win for his battalion and has had solid command support during the training phase.

“The commander is all excited about this. We talked to him a couple weeks ago and he’s looking forward to how the team is going to place,” he said.

“We are looking to win it, bring (the trophy) back to Fort Leonard Wood,” Hartman said.

(Editor’s note: Malone is a photojournalist with the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Public Affairs Office.)