JAC HAMMERS Nail TOUGH GUY/NETTLE WARRIOR Challenge

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Jr., Commanders Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Royal Air Forc e Molesworth, England --  "Most first time JAC HAMMERS will tell you that it wasn't as hard as they thought it would be, but all will tell you that they are sore, bruised -- and definitely had a good time," said RAF Molesworth team lead, Army Major Sam Parton. Parton adds that "most have already vowed to return for the 2011 TOUGHGUY winter challenge on January 30th next year."

The TOUGH GUY/NETTLE WARRIOR competition is held twice a year in Perton, England. The winter event is typically held on the last Sunday in January - historically one of the coldest days of the year where frozen water obstacles are just one of the challenges. The summer event differs only in the requirement for two laps through a set of water, fire and climbing challenges known as the "killing fields." New this year is a set of obstacles called the "torture chamber" -- crawling under a building where you can't avoid a series of electric cattle prods. "Knowing that you have to go through those a second time is not fun," said one of the JAC HAMMERS.

Six TOUGH GUY veterans were on the thirty-two member JAC HAMMERS team - seventeen were from Maj. Parton's own division at the JIOCEUR Analytic Center. The twenty-six first time JAC HAMMERS competed for many reasons. The challenge was a test of physical endurance, but one of mental endurance as well.

For 25 year old Senior Airman Kyla A. Kelsey it was about challenging herself. "I wanted to overcome my fear of heights and prove to myself that I could do it. After I jumped off the diving board into the cold water I knew I could complete the course" said Kelsey. Would she do it again? "I'd probably do the summer one again, but am not so sure about the winter TOUGH GUY." Army Staff Sgt. Pamela Laguna, who did the winter TOUGH GUY last January, added: "If you don't do it and face the challenge, you are limiting yourself."

Marine Corps Sgt. Jordan W. Jacobs echoes Kelsey's feeling about the winter TOUGH GUY. Jacobs compared the course to his Marine Corps boot camp experience. "I never was electrocuted in boot camp, and I never almost got stuck climbing through a sewer pipe."

Finishing times for the JAC HAMMERS for the 8 mile course ranged from 2:30:00 to 5:00:00. Army Sgt. Eduardo Morales from AFRICOM finished in 2:30:00 with a top 50 performance. The remaining members of the top five from the JAC Hammers were Maj. Parton, and Navy Petty Officers Brandon T. Duvall, Joshua R. Townley and Elizabeth A. Pudewell. Most JAC Hammers took around 4 hours to finish.

The JAC HAMMERS prepped for the event as they would for a military operation, reviewing imagery of the course,  'intelligence' from previous participants, and virtually walking the course to make sure everybody was a prepared as possible. A buddy system ensured that no one fell behind. "I was amazed at the camaraderie not just from our buddies, but from other participants who would offer to help you over an obstacle" said Staff Sgt. Kathleen B. Thorburn. Thorburn, who like Laguna did the winter event last January assisted the team, but did not participate this time because she is recovering from an unrelated injury. "I had to force myself not to pack a change of clothing because I knew I would be tempted to do the course again," said Thorburn.

Parton stressed safety to his team. "There are right ways and wrong ways to negotiate the obstacles. By using a steady and consistent approach, very few JAC Hammers got injured. While your instinct is to charge through the first part of the course, I told my team to dial it back a bit and save their energy for the 'killing fields.' Most of the injuries among TOUGH GUY competitors treated by the several ambulance crews standing by were typically ankle or knee related. The major who took over the JAC HAMMERS lead from former JAC Commander and JAC HAMMERS founder Col. Pete Devlin is already looking for team members for the January TOUGH GUY.