3rd ID celebrates 108th birthday with Marne Hero Days

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - The 3rd Infantry Division is celebrating its 108th birthday and 30 years at Ft. Stewart this week with a little friendly competition during Marne Hero Days.

Over the next two days, soldiers are going head-to-head in physical, innovative and even culinary challenges.

Wednesday at Ft. Stewart, eight groups competed in the 3rd annual Innovations Challenge. Soldiers had up to six months to come up with a unique idea that would either solve a problem or improve a system within the division.

From advanced manufacturing tools and thermal energy decoy devices to an app that streamlines medical readiness, each innovation has the ability to enhance the Army’s readiness, efficiency or lethality.

The competition also gave soldiers who don’t typically specialize in development and design the chance to showcase their bright ideas and bring them to life.

“This allows soldiers within the 3-rd Infantry Division to source and solve their own problems, and we get to push that out through the proper channels so that the entire Army can use those products,” said Specialist Michael Leibolt.

Culinary Specialists also competed in the Best Chef Competition Wednesday while some of the sport-related competitions kicked off. More sporting events, including combatives and CrossFit, will take place Thursday.

The 3rd Infantry Division plans to wrap up Marne Hero Days with a celebratory cake cutting in honor of the division’s birthday on Nov. 21.