1st Armored Division Artillery holds first ever Bombard Challenge

Official Statements

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “FORT BLISS, Texas — The words “Iron Steel” rested above the entrance to the 1st Armored Division Artillery early in the morning October 21. The frantic energy of 30 Soldiers’ labor during a combat field test answered its challenge - those words would greet them again the next morning when they returned after completing the brigade’s new Bombard Challenge.”

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “For over two months, U.S. Army Col. Samuel Nirenberg, 1AD DIVARTY’s commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brandon Morey, the brigade’s senior enlisted leader, worked with their staff to introduce a new charge to its troops - one that combined the physical rigors of operations met by its artillerymen and reflection on the division’s storied heritage dating back to 1940.”

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “This go around was the first of its kind,” Nirenberg said. “I wanted the senior leaders from each of the battalions, their top five, as well as some senior staff officers, to be able to come out and to be able to proof-of-concept this iteration to make it better and bigger each time we do it.”

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “The first iteration of the challenge engaged 30 leaders across DIVARTY’s Headquarters and Headquarter Battalion; its Headquarters and Headquarter Battery, 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment; 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment; 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment; and the 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element. Rucking approximately 25 miles between stations, the competitors travelled and contended in nine different training lanes crossing Fort Bliss, El Paso and New Mexico. These leaders competed to complete the challenge for the best time possible in under 26 hours.”

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “It was good to see our leaders going after it [and] leading from the front,” said Warrant Officer Antonio Bornilla, a targeting technician and planner for the challenge with 1st Armored Division Artillery. “... and kind of establishing what a Bombard Soldier would be [and] the attributes that [should] reflect when they’re down - when they’re drained, mentally, physically and emotionally tired.”

• 24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element, November 13: “Nirenberg said the brigade would continue developing the challenge and would go on to hold it every fiscal quarter, starting this December. “This was an opportunity to test the mental, physical and emotional resilience of these leaders,” said Nirenberg. “... and I’ll tell you, they passed extremely well, and I’m proud of each and every one of them.”