JAC HAMMERS Pound Mud in UK Tough Guy Event

  • Published
  • By Peter G. Park, Commander's Action Group
  • JIOCEUR Analytic Center
Old Perton and RAF Molesworth, England --  It is one of the most grueling, muddy and almost always cold events in the world. When the nine-member JAC HAMMERS team took on the UK Tough Guy competition challenge on July 25, at least four of them knew what they were getting into, having done it before.

For Navy Lt. José Lepesuastegui it was his 4th 'Tough Guy.'  JAC Commander, Marine Corps Col. Pete Devlin, was making his 3rd visit to the muddy farmers fields in Old Perton, England, and for Marine Sergeant Matt Johnson and Anthony Devlin, their second try.

All nine JAC HAMMERS team members knew they would get wet, sore, filthy and possibly worse in the event called "Tough Guy the Gorilla 2009" joining nearly 3000 contestants who finished the event.

Led by Col. Devlin, the JAC HAMMERS nine representing both the JIOCEUR Analytic Center and the AFRICOM IKD-M at Royal Air Force Molesworth, England took on British, German, and other European groups sporting a variety of attire including the de rigueur "Borat-style" swimsuits, superwoman costumes, top hats, suits and ties, and more (and less!)

The semi-annual Tough Guy event consists of a cross country run followed by an assault course. According to the organizer, the self-styled 'Mr. Mouse,' running the course involves" risking barbed wire, cuts, scrapes, burns, dehydration, hypothermia, acrophobia, claustrophobia, twists, joint dislocation, broken bones and death. Before running the course you must sign a 'death warrant' which states that you accept the risks and run the course of your own choice and can not claim in the case of injury. "

As noted on the Tough Guy website, "Tough Guy will always be a physically challenging, mentally demanding, fear inducing, visual spectacular. After you have taken part you will understand why thousands keep coming back, year after year to experience some of the most demanding yet rewarding challenges of their life! We have searched the world amongst military and security forces to find any unit with a more demanding ONE DAY survival training ordeal. The US Navy S.E.A.L.S. 'Grinder' Assault Course is our nearest rival."

When asked why he has done Tough Guy 4 times, LT Lepesuastegui said: "For me, once you conquer the mental blocks, it actually becomes fun!" The JAC will be fielding at least one team in the January 2010 winter tough guy and are looking for members of the tribase who are up to the challenge.