1st Lt. Keller Fires M16
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany --- 1st Lt. Brian Keller, 212th Combat Support Hospital, fires his weapon during United States Army Europe's Best Junior Officer Competition in Grafenwoehr, Germany, July 24, 2012. The Best Junior Officer Competition, unique to the U.S. Army in Europe, is a training event meant to challenge and refine competitors' leadership and cognitive decision-making skills in a high-intensity environment. The competition runs from July 23-27, 2012. The competitors, company-grade officers ranking from 2nd Lt. to Capt., represent Army units throughout Europe and have already distinguished themselves amongst their peers and exemplify the profession of arms. The competition brings these up-and-coming young leaders together for five days of physically and mentally challenging training, all for the chance to be named U.S. Army Europe's "Best Junior Officer" for 2012. Challenges include pistol and rifle qualifications, multiple foot marches, and various situational training exercises to test their intellect and instincts as leaders. The knowledge, skill-sets and leadership traits honed at this competition will help prepare the young leaders involved to excel when the time comes to lead Soldiers in a deployed environment.
(U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Markus Rauchenberger/Released). Original public domain image from Flickr