Fort Bliss Honors Fallen Soldier With Commando Competition

The memory of a fallen El Paso soldier was honored his fellow Fort Bliss troops who tested their mental and physical stamina with the inaugural Staff Sgt. Joshua Mills Commando Competition.

Eighty soldiers competed on November 21st during a day -long event that had the troops competing in categories such as carrying a teammate in a stretcher, and being tested on how to do a medical evacuation.

Contest organizers say they wanted to hold the competition to honor Staff Sgt. Mills, who was a native El Pasoan, and a Special Forces soldier with 7th Special Forces Group out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Staff Sgt. Mills was killed by a roadside bomb in 2009 while serving in Afghanistan.

A team from 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division finished first. The Bulldog Brigade will be inactivating in spring 2015, so winning the event was special for the team members because after the brigade inactivates, the members will be going to different installations.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Mills family. May God bless our troops and keep them safe.