Photo By Sgt. Amber Bohlman | Pfc. Aaron Parr rucks his way across Ridgeline Trail on the second day of tryouts for...... read more read more
Subscribe
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba—After months of preparation, including weekends, more than 80 Soldiers with the 525th Military Police Detention Battalion gathered in front of Joint Task Force Guantanamo headquarters to compete for an opportunity to be part of an elite team sent to participate in one the U.S. Military’s most hallowed commemorations – the 26th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March.
The event pays tribute to the notorious death march American and Filipino troops were forced to endure in 1942 when Japanese forces seized the Philippine Islands.
With little food and few provisions, thousands of Service members died while forced to march more than 80 miles to Japanese prisoner of war camps.
Sgt. 1st Class Duane D. Neyens, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Bataan Memorial Death March tryouts here, said the Soldiers are competing to be a part of a five-person team that will compete in the Military Heavy Coed Division for the march that occurs at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. While the tryout held here is 14.6 miles, the formal march is 26.2 miles.
“They are carrying 35 pound ruck sacks if they’re competing and going these 14.6 miles. This is going to be a trying event and certainly those who have had more time to prepare will have the advantage,” Neyens said.
Many of the Service members here dedicated large amounts of time and effort in order to properly train for the event, with the hope of winning a spot on the team.
“We’ve been preparing for this event everyday for about two months now,” said Spc. Nicholas Kress, a human resources specialist here. “Every day for physical training we go out with the team and ruck march. Our company commander and first sergeant were great about letting us do our own thing at PT and being able to prepare and get ready for this march.”
While some had months to prepare for the tryouts, others arrived here mere weeks ago. Even with very little preparation they challenged themselves to see if they could successfully overcome this physically and mentally demanding trial.
“Some of them haven’t been here that long. We’ve got a couple of companies that just arrived, and one just arrived about three weeks ago,” Neyens said. “So, they haven’t had a lot of preparation time because they’ve been getting ready for mission.”
Neyens said that seeing these Soldiers compete to memorialize a part of history was incredibly motivating. The looks on their faces as they came down the final stretch of road looking exhausted, but excited, was both motivating and inspiring.
The competitors faced many challenging obstacles; from rucking to the top of John Paul Jones Hill, to looping across the ridgeline to the winding road heading toward Windmill Beach. Some made it the entire distance, others stopped themselves before it became too much.
“I’m glad that I accomplished this, and I didn’t stop, even though I wanted to a few times along the ridgeline. I’m proud of myself, this was a victory,” said Spc. Stephanie Robinson, supply specialist.
The official team will be announced in the weeks to come, look for it in an upcoming edition of "The Wire."
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2015 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 152447 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ruck heavy to New Mexico, by SGT Amber Bohlman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
