Amazing Race Carson style

By Sgt. William Smith (4th ID)October 1, 2013

Colorado and home.
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The Duck Dynasty team, competing in the Fort Carson Amazing Race style competition, take a photo with the Colorado state flag on Founders Field, as part of the first challenge, Sept. 28, 2013. Each member of the team also had to... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fire hose 2.
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- 2nd Lt. Mark Sopkiw, M1 Abrams maintainer, 183rd Maintenance Company, and Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Bush, ammo sergeant, 60th Ordnance Company, both 43rd Sustainment Brigade, use a fire hose to knockdown a cone during the Fort Cars... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
6-foot putt.
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Emily Pagliara, wife of Staff Sgt. Cory Pagliara, infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, competing in the Fort Carson Amazing Race style competition... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fire hose.
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Karen Pearl, wife of Col. Brian L. Pearl, commander, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Lilla Newton, wife of Lt. Col. Brandon Newton, operations officer, 4th Inf. Div., use a fire hose to knockdown a c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. (Sept. 28, 2013) -- More than 50 Family members and Soldiers, dressed in costumes ranging from Duck Dynasty to Wonder Woman, anxiously awaited for the gun to go off to begin an Amazing Race style competition Sept. 28.

The competition was designed to help familiarize the 14 teams with the various resources and venues around post, and to help build a social support network with others in the military community.

"When we found out that (the unit was) deploying, we wanted to develop a whole year's worth of activities for our spouses," said Melissa Hermosillo, Family Readiness Support Assistant, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. "This event really helped to connect spouses with other spouses.

"I don't think that you ever stop worrying while your spouse is deployed, but Army spouses and Families being able to interact with others going through a similar experience makes the time that we spend together more enjoyable," she added.

The teams raced from event to event, located at different locations such as Iron Horse Park and the Golf Course, and had to complete a challenge at each of them. Those who struggled to decipher the clues found help an arm's length away, usually from a fellow stranger competing in the race.

"I have wonderful friends that participated with me, and I can call them if I ever needed anything," said Sammy Nelson, spouse of Staff Sgt. David Nelson, personal security detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

"We worked together to complete the challenges; by participating in the event, it just shows how strong we are. It makes us that much stronger, and reinforces the fact that we help each other to get through a deployment."

Hermosillo said, "You won't know if you don't try," and encouraged people to get involved in the military community.

"Don't be afraid to get involved, and do something that you don't think that you can, because there are other people around that will support you," she said. "While this event was competitive, we saw teams help each other answer clues, saw teams helping each other get to the next challenge, and we saw a lot of teams just interacting with each other that never would've had the opportunity to otherwise."

Nelson said she hopes the event happens again next year.

"We had a lot of fun. We dressed-up in Duck Dynasty costumes, and a lot of people laughed, honked, or wanted to take pictures with us. It was a great time. We definitely will do this again next year, and I would encourage other spouses to come out."

Hermosillo said that there are plans to host another Amazing Race style competition in the spring.