FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell is vying against the 82nd Airborne in the finals of an online unit spirit competition.
Screaming Eagles supporters have until 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 22 CST to go on Facebook or Twitter to cast votes that will determine who wins the sports bracket-style competition and bragging rights as the Unit Madness 2020 Challenge winners. The idea for such an online event came from the 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office, the COVID-19 pandemic, and a desire for healthy competition.
“With our social media being consumed by COVID-19 at the end of March, we started brainstorming ways we could get away from it but not look insensitive to the issues at hand,” explained Master Sgt. Andrew Porch, division Public Affairs non-commissioned officer in charge, 25th Infantry Division.
“At first, we were going to do just our battalions, but we thought such a large amount of people love sports; and maybe it would catch on. ”Porch said he and his section wanted to fill the sports void from a military standpoint using unit patches through a favorite patch competition. However, it “morphed” into a unit pride phenomenon. A combination Facebook and Twitter vote totals determines what units advance as results of the one-on-one face-offs in each bracket.
Up to this point in the competition, voting for every matchup took place within a one-day period. However, for the finals featuring the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, the voting period is extended to three days, which began Sunday, April 19.
