Army Reserve Soldiers test their mettle at Southern California Tough Mudder

Photo By 1st Lt. Timothy Yao | Army Reserve Soldier Spc. Adam Holbrook, 2nd Battalion, 413th Regiment, 95th Training Division, March Air Force Base, Calif., goes through the SoCal Tough Mudder with his wife, after completing the course himself the previous day. Holbrook said completing the course reminds him that his body is still mission capable, despite an old knee injury, Temecula, Calif., Nov. 1, 2015.  

TEMECULA, CA, UNITED STATES

11.01.2015

Story by Pfc. Timothy Yao 

311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command   

TEMECULA, Calif. – Army Reserve Soldiers challenged themselves and others at the physically intensive 2015 Southern California Tough Mudder in Temecula, California, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1.

Spc. Adam Holbrook, 2nd Battalion, 413th Regiment, 95th Training Division, March Air Force Base, California, joined the Army Reserve last year after serving three and a half years as an active duty Soldier. Now a full-time student and father, he said, “The obstacles’ physical demands motivate me to stay fit.”

Tough Mudder is not a race. The goal is to challenge oneself to finish the course. Mudders, whether they know each other or not, complete the course obstacles through teamwork.

“Whether it was water, heights, or the unknown, participants demonstrated courage on the course,” said Drill Sgt. Mercedes Green, 2nd Battalion, 413th Regiment, 95th Training Division, out of March Air Force Base, California. She went on to further say both Army Reserve Soldiers and Tough Mudder participants share the Army value of personal courage.

Green explained, “Teamwork embodies Army values like loyalty, duty, and selfless service.”

Many of the values and characteristics found in the individuals willing to accept the Tough Mudder challenge are found in those who join the Army Reserve. A person willing to endure the grueling course using teamwork and tenacity may also make good Soldiers. With that in mind, Army Reserve drill sergeants and recruiters were on hand to engage with anyone interested in joining the military. Knowing the desire for testing one’s self exemplified in Tough Mudder participants, four Army Reserve drill sergeants ran an Army inspired fitness challenge.

“We’re here to build teamwork and physically push ourselves,” said former Reservists Sgt. 1st Class Robert Strong and Sgt. Thomas Warren.

They brought along their Under Armour coworkers.

“Tough Mudder gave us the opportunity to try something new and test our limits.

• Date Taken: 11.01.2015
• Date Posted: 11.02.2015 22:41
• Story ID: 180698
• Location: TEMECULA, CA, US