SUWON AIR BASE, Republic of Korea—Softball, football, launcher pull, oh my!  Air defenders from across the Korean peninsula came to compete in the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s annual Commander’s Cup April 17 with one goal in mind: to walk away with not just a few trophies, but bragging rights for the entire year ahead.

     Despite the sunny day and the efforts of all the soldiers involved, only two overall winners walked with the commander’s cup.  Headquarters and Headquarters Battery (HHB)  35th ADA Brigade swiped the “Best Battery” award with 18 points, leaving Alpha Battery, 1-44 ADA, in second by five points.  The “Best Battalion” award went to 1-44 ADA with an overall score of 58 points, sliding by 1-7 ADA by four points.   

     The sporting events from horseshoes to basketball to even golf and soccer ran throughout the day forcing batteries from 1-7 ADA , 1-44 ADA, and HHB, 35th ADA Brigade, to fight against each other and with each other to walk away with the overall prize.

     Each activity had its own first- through third-place winner; five points awarded to first, three for second and two for third.  The overall battery and battalion winners were based on how many points the soldiers grabbed from each event, with individual winners in each category.

     HHB, 1-7 ADA, walked away with first in soccer, followed by HHB, 1-44 ADA, and Charlie Battery, 1-44 ADA, in third.

     Battery strength was tested during the Launcher Pull as teams of 20 dragged the 40,000-pound vehicle across the finish line.  HHB, 1-44 ADA, took the least amount of time to complete the mission, leaving them with first place trophies, followed closely by HHB, 35th ADA Brigade.  Charlie Battery, 1-7 ADA, came in third.

     Foxtrot Battery, 1-44 ADA,  cleared the court in basketball, bringing them a first place victory over second-place HHB, 1-44 ADA, and third-place Charlie Battery, 1-44 ADA.

     The softball event granted Bravo, 1-7 ADA ,first place, followed by HHB, 35th ADA Brigade, in second and HHB, 1-7 ADA, in third.

Battery commanders tear across the parade field during the “Commander and 1st Sgt. Race” portion of the 35th ADA Brigade's Commander's Cup events.

     Warfighters scrambled to gain control over their opponent in the combatives game, but 51st Maintenance Battery rolled the competition to take first place.  Alpha Battery, 1-7 ADA, walked from the mats in second with Delta Battery 1-7 ADA, hanging on in third.

     Despite the warm sun and the sandy ground, Alpha Battery, 1-7 ADA, slammed the volleyball competition to take first, leaving HHB, 35th ADA Brigade, to grab second with Charlie Battery, 1-44 ADA, placing third.

     Alpha Battery, 1-44 ADA, threw enough ringers in the horseshoe event to grant them a first-place trophy over Delta  Battery 1-7 ADA, which snatched second, and Alpha Battery, 1-7 ADA, which walked with third.

     Soldiers swung their hearts out in the golf event, but HHB, 35th ADA Brigade, eliminated the competition as first place victors over Bravo Battery, 1-44 ADA, which skipped away with second and Foxtrot Battery, 1-44 ADA, which left in third.

     Delta Battery, 1-44 ADA, carried their 35-pound packs to triumph in the six-mile rucksack competition, passing up the second-place team from Alpha Battery, 1-7 ADA, and third-place HHB, 35th ADA Brigade.

     The battery commanders and first sergeants sprinted across the parade field with their guideons in hand in their perspective relay race.  Bravo Battery, 1-44 ADA, rushed passed the finish line in first with Bravo Battery, 1-7 ADA, close at their heels to snag second; HHB, 35th ADA Brigade, sprinted into third place.

     Even though the Col. James H. Dickinson, 35th ADA Brigade commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. James T. Carr, 35th ADA Brigade command sergeant major, only awarded the overall winners of the event, there was more to brigade’s competition than walking away with a trophy.

     “This event, as much fun as it is, is more than games,” said Maj. James C. Clarke, the brigade’s executive officer.  “It was a training event to build teamwork, camaraderie and raise the moral of the soldiers.” 

     Because the air defenders rotate to Korea for a year-long tour, being away from families can cause stress for some soldiers, and the sporting day aided in giving them a break from missing home.