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    GoRuck Light gives Airmen glimpse of SOF community

    GoRuck Light gives Airmen glimpse of SOF community

    Photo By 1st Lt. Charles Rivezzo | Staff Sgt. Kevin Blevins, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, holds his...... read more read more

    TRAVIS AFB, CA, UNITED STATES

    09.14.2015

    Story by Staff Sgt. Charles Rivezzo 

    60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

    Trekking across a body of water, suspending a 20-pound rucksack above their heads and pushing an ambulance half-a-mile down the street was just the start of the day for 16 participants taking part in the GoRuck Light Challenge here Sept. 12.

    Designed and developed by former United States military special operations personnel, the challenge is meant to provide an introduction to the team-based training found within the special operations community.

    Led by Special Operations Cadre Dakotah Hayes, a former Army Special Forces medic who deployed seven times throughout his 11 years on active duty, the team that started as small groups and individuals were pushed to come together as one cohesive unit to overcome a variety of obstacles and challenges across the installation.

    Master Sgt. Jesse Ferrari, 60th Surgical Operations Squadron first sergeant, said that the biggest benefit for Airmen taking part in these types of challenges is that everyone gains new communication skills during the transformation from individual to team.

    "At the beginning of the day everyone is fresh and rested, they don't need to rely on teamwork as much," Ferrari said. "After a couple hours when fatigue sets in, it forces people out of their comfort zone and makes them look to the person standing next to them and ask for help."

    For nearly six hours participants dragged tractor-sized tires, overhead carried river rafts, completed rigorous body-weight based exercises and rucked more seven miles.

    "I thought overall it was great, I came in with an open mind as to what we were going to be doing that day and rolled with every challenge that was put before us," the first sergeant added. "I did have some concerns at first as there were only two 'old' guys on the team, but in the end, neither one of us ever brought up the rear. We represented well."

    Unique to the group was the mother-son combination of Maj. Denise Lemon, 60th Air Mobility Wing, and Senior Airman Justin Kirk, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, who worked side-by-side throughout the challenge.

    "[It was] awesome," Lemon said. "It gave us the opportunity to work as a team instead of the traditional mom-son role."

    "It was a good bonding moment for my mom and I to get out and do something as a team," Kirk added.

    Kirk said that GoRuck Light "put a new twist on the typical military ruck march."

    "At first I didn't know what to expect, but the moment we first jumped in the pool with our rucks high over our head, I knew we were going to be in for a challenge," he said. "We pushed sleds, carried rafts above our heads, climbed stairs, and flipped tires.
    Overall it was really fun."

    Sponsored by Travis Outdoor Recreation, officials stated that they hope to have a GoRuck challenge annually.

    "This program was created to give our Airmen an opportunity to participate in adventure race type events while incorporating the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness; Mental, Physical, Social and Spiritual," said Bob Moon, Outdoor Recreation programs manager. "This program is built around GoRuck, a small grassroots company that is plugged into a young, active, tech savvy group of participants.

    "[Next year], we are hoping to host two events; one being squadron team based, offering commander's points," Moon added.

    "If they have a GoRuck next year, I will be there," Kirk said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.14.2015
    Date Posted: 05.05.2016 14:05
    Story ID: 197421
    Location: TRAVIS AFB, CA, US

    Web Views: 155
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN