Fort Carson soldiers compete to earn ‘Best Sapper’ title

It’s not easy for any soldier to be considered a Sapper, or ‘combat engineer’, but twelve soldiers endured a rigorous 36-hour competition Wednesday for a chance to earn the title.

Fort Carson began holding the ‘Best Sapper Competition’ in 2016 as a way to choose the best teams to represent the 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson in the Army-wide competition.

(Photos of the winners -> http://www.krdo.com/669926831)

“Being a Sapper, you need to not only be strong but you need to be smart, knowing exactly what to do and when to do it,” said Maj. Daniel Brady, 4th Infantry Division engineer.

The training includes a variety of stations that test physical and mental strength. Tests include tying 13 different knots, disassembling and reassembling weapons, or using a thermal cutting torch to tear through pieces of metal.

“It is draining, but you have to keep practicing,” said Daniel Butensky, an executive officer. “Perfection is extremely hard to attain.”

Note: The top two teams will go on to compete in the army-wide ‘Best Sapper Competition’ at Fort Leonard Wood in April.