Cavalry Scouts Move Forward in Gainey Cup Competition

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/31/2017) (readMedia)-- Soldiers from Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment based in Dixon, Illinois, took third place at the Army National Guard's Gainey Cup Assessment and Selection at Fort Benning, Georgia, Jan. 22-28.

The six-Soldier team competed in a wide variety of physical and mental challenges designed to test their competencies as cavalry scouts. Cavalry scouts deploy forward of main forces and perform reconnaissance, providing vital information on enemy locations and capabilities, as well as provide additional combat power on the battlefield.

With the third-place finish, the team will travel back to Fort Benning's Army National Guard Warrior Training Center to train and compete from Apr. 3-30 with three other Guard teams. The top three teams will move forward to compete in the Army's Gainey Cup Competition May 1- 5 for a chance at becoming the Army's Best Scout Squad.

The Gainey Cup is a competition and trophy named after Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) William J. Gainey, former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and awarded to the Army's best cavalry squad every year.

Cutline 1: First Lt. Robert Springer of Chicago, and teammates Sgt. Evan Westart of Oswego, Illinois; Sgt. Zechariah Johnson of Oregon, Illinois; Spc. Jacob Barringer of Henry, Illinois; Spc. Haniel Delinski of Rock Island, Illinois; and Spc. Daniel Walker of Milliedgeville, Illinois, members of Illinois' Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment based in Dixon, Illinois, stand with other Army National Guard teams following the Gainey Cup Assessment at Fort. Benning, Georgia, Jan. 22-28. The Illinois team took third place, earning a spot in the ARNG Gainey Cup train up and competition in April and a chance at competing in the Army's Gainey Cup competition to become the Army's Best Cavalry Squad. (Courtesy photo provided by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy; National Guard Bureau Public Affairs ))

Cutline 2: Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher S. Kepner, Command Sergeant Major of the Army National Guard, addresses Soldiers that competed in the Army National Guard's Gainey Cup Assessment and Selection at Fort Benning, Georgia, Jan. 22-28. The six-man team from Illinois' Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment based in Dixon, Illinois, took thrid place, earning a spot in the ARNG Gainey Cup train up and competition in April and a chance at competing in the Army's Gainey Cup competition to become the Army's Best Cavalry Squad. (Courtesy photo provided by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy; National Guard Bureau Public Affairs )