2CAB 2,000 mile run team challenge

Photo By Chung Il Kim | Spc. Christopher Williams, a taskings specialist in the 2nd CAB operations section, is running to win the 2,000 mile running challenge.  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, SOUTH KOREA

11.19.2015

Story by Chung Il Kim 

2nd Combat Aviation Brigade

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea - The sky is painted with red and orange as the sun sets. The airfield runway track is also covered with fallen leaves of red and yellow. The lazy afternoon air is charged with military cadence, rhythmic footsteps and anticipation. Seven sweat-drenched Soldiers sprint their way down the last stretch of their morning run along the airfield.

The Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade is conducting a 2,000 mile run challenge for seven-Soldier teams from Nov. 1, 2015, to Feb. 29, 2016, here.

"The challenge is to build esprit de corps and to challenge your physical and mental readiness during the coldest months in Korea,” said Master Sgt. Raymond Siliang, an operations section noncommissioned officer from the 2nd CAB. “Miles will be recorded with GPS watches or smartphone apps.”

Siliang is on the team called “Talon Warriors” with Col. Hank Taylor, the 2nd CAB commander, Command Sgt. Maj. Estevan Sotorosado, the 2nd CAB senior enlisted adviser, and other Talon leaders. Siliang has reached 89 miles as of the third week of challenge.

“Currently, I’m in second to a Soldier who ran 90 miles,” said Siliang. “By the end of this month, I want to beat his record.”

Sgt. 1st Class B Antonio Bustion Jr., another operations section NCO for the 2nd CAB, is on team “WOE," which stands for "working on excellence.”

“We need a fair amount of strategy,” said Bustion. “Each team member will run 2.5 miles per day and that will add up to roughly 17.5 miles per week.”

Showing the running application on his phone, he said, “I have run 50 miles so far.”

Bustion said he believes that the challenge helps the Soldiers to build teamwork, cohesion and strength.

Spc. Christopher Williams, a taskings specialist in the 2nd CAB operations section, is also on team “WOE” with Bustion.

“I was overweight before I joined the Army,” said Williams. “I lost a lot of fat while running, and I run regularly to maintain my weight.”

Williams has never enjoyed running, but he said he pushes himself to his limit and has become one of the best runners in the brigade.

“If you keep running, it gets better and easier every day,” said Williams.

These Soldiers all have different motivations and capabilities when it comes to running, but at the end of the day these Soldiers come together as a team to test their physical and mental ability to complete the 2,000 mile running challenge.

• Date Taken: 11.19.2015
• Date Posted: 11.18.2015 20:40
• Story ID: 182306
• Location: CAMP HUMPHREYS, 41, KR