Photo By Sgt. Lindsay Mackie | Second Lt. Dayna Seelhammer, 1st Lt. Aaron Rindahl, 1st Lt. David Guerdan, and Capt....... read more read more
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KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, Kuwait - On the morning of Dec. 23, 2011, six teams set out on a mission to complete a commander’s challenge competition organized by the 7th Engineer Dive Team commander, Capt. Scott Sann, who wanted to “test the unit’s physical and mental strength while simultaneously building esprit de corps through the unified shared experience of pain.” The teams consisted of U.S. Army divers, Navy explosive ordnance disposal and soldiers from the 1/34 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team.
The event kicked off with the first team beginning the first event of push-ups and sit-ups. As a team, they needed to complete 500 push-ups and 500 sit-ups before moving onto the three mile run. The weather on race day was a cool 60 degrees, a welcomed break from the 120 degree heat that is normal in Kuwait during the summer.
Upon completion of the three mile run, the teams conducted a casualty buddy carry and a litter carry. With teams having to carry two of their teammates on their back, this was one of the most difficult event. There were many different techniques used, from the popular fireman carry to a piggyback-style carry. Teams switched passengers during the event to save energy. With the event covering nearly one mile, strategy played a big role in achieving efficiency.
Keeping with the “challenge” theme of the race, the next events were not much easier. Competitors had to complete a tire flip, then drag the tire for 75 meters. The tire was approximately four feet in diameter and weighed over 200 pounds. Giving the competitors’ legs a break, they moved into upper body strength events. The teams had to complete 125 pull-ups as a team and hold a set of scuba tanks in each hand for one minute. With already fatigued bodies, many competitors were struggling and short of breath during the pull-ups.
Just after the competitor’s legs had started to lose weariness, they had to spring into action again. All of the competitors transitioned into boots and strapped on a 35 pound rucksack and took off down the trail on a six mile ruck march. The terrain was a mix of sand and asphalt, as well as running on the Kuwait Naval Pier into the Persian Gulf. The end of the ruck march brought the finish line closer, but it was not time to let up yet. A full-sized pickup truck was waiting for the teams to push down the road.
Having completed all of this made the last three events seem easy. After pushing the truck, the teams made a one mile dash for the Kuwait dive pool. To finish the challenge, teams had to jump into the frigid pool water, tread water for five minutes and swim to the bottom of the 20 foot deep pool and claim their coins. Once all coins were collected, the team’s time would stop.
Once all the scores were tallied, it was a tight race. The first place overall team, 3rd Squad, led by Staff Sgt. Jeb Dunham, 7th Engineer Dive Team, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, finished with an impressive time of 3:04:05. The second place team, Dream Crushers, led by Capt. Scott Sann, 7th Engineer Dive Team, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, was very close with a time of 3:04:20. After all the teams completed, there was a barbecue at the 7th Engineer Dive tent, followed by an awards ceremony.
| Date Taken: | 12.23.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2011 04:53 |
| Story ID: | 81833 |
| Location: | KUWAIT NAVAL BASE, KW |
| Web Views: | 229 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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