Photo By Sgt. Nelson Robles | Infantrymen from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. – Infantrymen from 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, tested their endurance and ability to fire while stressed during an 18-mile ruck-march and range, July 31, 2015.
This battalion ruck march traversed the training area, pushing Soldiers physically culminating in a qualifying range at the 16-mile mark, testing their ability to cope with fatigue and still fire accurately.
“The intent of this event was to help build physical fitness within the unit and building their mental toughness, we’re trying to teach the Soldiers that they can do more than they think they can,” said 2nd Lt. James Link, platoon leader, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. “They can reach their limit and keep on going, even under physical and mental stress, even after 16-miles, they will be able to complete their mission.”
The ruck-march began at 4 a.m. allowing the Soldiers some reprieve from the sun that pushed temperatures into the 90s.
“Part of our early departure time was to allow limited use of nods as well as to mitigate heat injuries, starting earlier allows them to complete the event earlier before the peak heat of the day,” said Staff Sgt. Vernon Roberts, range safety noncommissioned officer in charge, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. “We also had safety vehicles as well as food and water stations staged at different points along the route so they would have some nutrition along the way.”
Once the Soldiers arrived at the range, they received quick instructions and moved towards their lanes.
“We are a light-infantry unit and one of our biggest assets is our physical ability,” said Link. “We have to be able to do more than that, they will get here after 16 miles and have to reengage their brains in order to qualify; it will help them build confidence in their abilities.”
Each Soldier’s range results varied.
“I felt like I did pretty well, especially after a 16-mile ruck march. We’ve been moving since 0400 this morning, pushing hard,” said Pvt. Myles Williams, infantryman, 1st Bn., 41st Inf. Reg. “This ruck march made me feel more confident in shooting, I think this will prepare us for our future deployments.”
With the completion of the final two-miles, the wary Soldiers were one step closer to their next goal.
“This is a crawl, walk, run progression and today we were in the walk phase; the Soldiers have completed 12-mile ruck marches before this as well as weekly rucks with varying weights,” said Link. “They had to perform a water crossing, carry a simulated casualty; this was hard for them but they pushed through. The run phase will be in September when we complete a 25-mile ruck-march.”
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.04.2015 15:48 |
| Story ID: | 172121 |
| Location: | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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