FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- In the darkness before physical training Thursday, an intrepid group of Mountaineers gathered in an empty parking lot with rifles, snowshoes, assault packs and bayonets, prepared for whatever the future held.
It was a chilling 14 degrees with a light snow beginning to fall on top of the already-present three feet on the ground -- the conditions were just right for PT in the tough North Country environment.
As Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Town-send, Fort Drum and 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander approached the group of battalion commanders assembled from across the division, he optimistically observed, "It's 20 degrees warmer than it was yesterday!" With that, the commanders began their monthly PT event with the commanding general validating the maxim, "The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war."
Almost every month, the CG assembles the battalion-level commanders and leads them through a PT session tied to the division's history, the Warrior Ethos, and the Soldier's Creed, followed by breakfast in a brigade's dining facility. The objectives are to increase physical and mental fitness and esprit de corps, and build trust, teamwork and cohesion among the commanders -- all key building blocks for "Mountain Tough" resilience. The session almost always includes some warfighting tasks so the commanders also remember that they lead our division's team of skilled, tough, ready, alert and confident warriors.
This month, the commanders increased their knowledge of Fort Drum and Mountaineer heritage and added another layer to their Mountain Tough with a battle-focused workout in the North Country's unforgiving environment. After strapping on their snowshoes, the group stepped off on their way to an unknown PT adventure in two squads with Mountain 6 leading the way.
After a short move, the platoon stopped to tighten their snowshoes and begin the first event of the day: "field PT" with weighted assault packs and rifles. The exercises ranged from overhead rifle presses to assault pack rows, curls and squats on snowshoes.
Drawing from his experience, Townsend counseled the commanders to conduct some appropriate physical training after "Stand To" each morning in the field, because in order for Soldiers to be prepared for war they must train for it every day, whether in the field or in garrison. The progressive hardening of Soldiers' minds and bodies through tough, realistic training in the North Country environment means Fort Drum Soldiers are not just tough -- they are "Mountain Tough."
Once everyone was warmed up and prepared for follow-on objectives, the command "Fix Bayonets" was issued. As the platoon affixed their blades to their rifles, they contemplated moving cross-country in the deep snow with cold, sharp steel fixed and exposed.
To provide a historical vignette, the CG recalled the story of Capt. Lewis Millett and the Korean War battle of Hill 180. On a frigid Feb. 7, 1951, Millett was the commander of E Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and led his company in a successful assault on a hill (later to be known as Bayonet Hill) near Soam-Ni, Korea. In later interviews, Millett said he had learned the importance of the Spirit of the Bayonet early in his career and always had his men fix bayonets before combat.
The Spirit of the Bayonet and the Warrior Ethos carried that day in February 1951. Fortified by the Spirit of the Bayonet and their belief in each other and led by their commander, the men of Easy Company took the enemy-held hill, killing more than 50 enemy soldiers -- many by the bayonet.
It is battle-focused PT that separates warriors conditioning themselves for battle from others merely exercising. Battle-focused PT in the North Country elements captures the essence of being a Soldier and a warrior.
As the platoon of leaders in full winter kit snow-shoed on, they maneuvered through unit areas and around formations conducting physical training, much to the surprise of some of the Soldiers as they caught the glimmer of the cold steel reflecting off each bayonet.
Upon arriving at Division Hill, the platoon secured the location and turned their attention to the task of bayonet training "Mountaineer style." The bayonet thrust, the most basic and lethal attack move, was taught first, followed by the smash, the slash and the butt-stroke as well as parries and blocks. The leaders on snowshoes sweated and yelled as they attacked through the frigid morning air, slashing and smashing at the enemy.
At the conclusion of their bayonet training, the group gathered at the memorial on Division Hill commemorating the location of the World War II-era Division Headquarters that once stood overlooking the parade grounds where so many storied units trained before deploying -- the 4th Armored Division, the 5th Armored Division, the 45th Armored Division, and the current 10th Mountain Division.
As part of the final leadership vignette of the day, Townsend relayed the actions of Capt. Francis Turner and his heroic efforts in 1947, which saved numerous lives as a fire raged through a barracks near Officer's Loop on South Post. Turner, awake because his duties were not quite done for the day, was able to alert other Soldiers asleep in the barracks to a fire raging. His act of selfless service saved the lives of many, but the burns he received that night ultimately cost him his life. His actions, and the actions of others like him, are an ever-present reminder of the history of Fort Drum and the legacy of every Mountaineer in the 10th Mountain Division.
After completing a final snowshoe movement, the commanders discussed how to improve the execution of training across the division over a superb breakfast at the Muleskinner Dining Facility. This was a fitting wrap-up to the morning's Mountain Tough training -- sitting down to a meal of good Army chow.
Geddings serves as commander of 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, and Thornburg serves as commander of 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th
Combat Aviation Brigade.
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