RAEFORD, N.C. - On 3 May 2013, soldiers of the 4th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) completed a grueling adventure race dubbed the Lightning Warrior Challenge. Spanning just over 22 miles, the race pitted teams of two against each other as they navigated a course with over 50 physical and mental challenges designed to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Some of these innovative challenges included an 8 foot wall climb, LMTV Tire Flip, Tow Bar Carry, Tap Code Cipher, Pattern Recognition and many other challenges.
The race offered the competitors with one daunting challenge after the other. The teams had no idea what they would face along the route as each obstacle’s task and distance remained a mystery throughout the course. Each team was given 12 hours to complete the course. For many soldiers the Lightning Warrior Challenge presented them with a running distance and challenges never before encountered.
In first place with a time of 5 hours and 13 minutes were Capt. Matthew Daigle and Staff Sgt. Blake Hampton of 6th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne). Capt. Daigle and Staff Sgt. Hampton were each awarded the Army Commendation Medal, a gold medal, a gift certificate to Gander Mountain Sports Store worth $100, a first place trophy, and a Warrior knife. Coming in second place, with a time of 5 hours and 17 minutes was the team of Maj. Jose Reyes, HHC, 4th MISG (A) and MSG Duane Jolly, 8th MISB(A). Third place went to the team comprised of Capt. Scott Harris and Capt. Curtis Knie of 8th MISB (A). The second and third place teams were also awarded the Army Commendation Medal, silver and bronze medals, and team trophies respectively.
The idea for the Lightning Warrior Challenge originated about two years ago, with a specific vision and training philosophy given by the 4th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) Commander, Col. Reginald Bostick.
The training philosophy and vision provide was to refine the connection between motivation, confidence and the stress associated with managing optimal individual performance. Based on that guidance, a team of approximately 20 soldiers designed the course to test the speed, emotional resilience, muscle strength, creativity, agility, stamina, mental grit, ideational fluency while at the same time increase camaraderie.
Preparation began with a six-mile "short walk" at Raven Rock Park with all key leaders. That short walk was followed by the more challenging, Long Walk; 50 miles of grueling terrain under austere weather conditions in the Appalachian Trail. The third event of this series, the Cross Cultural Communication Competition or C4. Each of those events, the hike at Raven Rock, the Long Walk, and the C4 Competition, were designed to test and prepare the soldiers of the Group in their physical and mental abilities for the culminating final and ultimate challenge, the Lightning Warrior Challenge.
Speaking on the progress he has seen and the pride he has in the unit, Col. Bostick says of the race, “Each event was designed to ensure that our organization could provide world class cutting-edge operators anywhere in the world. We have been committed to building a deliberate and continuous process that would develop our MISO Force into formation composed of competent and confident leaders capable of executing operations with minimal guidance. Now we are at a point where in our organization where we can take on this 22 Mile 51 obstacle course in less than 10 hours.”