Soldiers assigned to the 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion flip a tire during a Disruptor Challenge, which the unit conducts on a monthly basis to honor fallen EOD Soldiers. The Soldiers also did burpees, push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, a one-mil...

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, Disruptors, hosted a physical fitness challenge April 5 on an open field located behind the 10th Special Troop Battalion's barracks to honor the memory of a fallen Soldier.

The Disruptor Battalion honors fallen heroes every month with a series of challenges. This month, they honored Sgt. 1st Class Scott R. Smith, a Soldier who died while in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006.

Lt. Col. Brian P. Clarke, 63rd EOD Battalion commander, said the Disruptor Challenges allow the unit to pause and memorialize one of the EOD community's fallen warriors every month so they are more than just names on a wall. It also allows current Soldiers to know and appreciate the fallen warrior's footsteps.

Although the unit conducts physical fitness tests every six months, the monthly challenges allow the leadership an opportunity to assess their Soldiers' physical fitness levels on combat-related tasks and tailor their morning physical training sessions if needed.

Command Sgt. Maj. Scott D. Frey, senior enlisted leader of the 63rd EOD Battalion, spoke to his Soldiers before the beginning of the event to ensure they understood its true meaning.

"During this event there will be times where it is not going to be so pleasant," Frey said. "I will tell you that it is not as unpleasant as losing a Soldier, Family Member or spouse. When you are having a struggle, just think about the Soldier we are memorializing, and it will get you through it."

The competitors were composed of three-Soldier teams from several of the battalion's subordinate companies. Every team member had to complete the challenge together with their organic EOD team.

The event began with Soldiers running for a mile in their Army combat uniform and boots. Upon completion, Soldiers donned their body armor and completed five more fitness challenges before finishing a one-mile ruck march and a common Soldier task.

The fitness challenges consisted of completing 37 burpees, push-ups, sit-ups, tire flips, and lunges. The number of repetitions represents the last two digits of Smith's last unit, the 737th EOD Company.

After Soldiers completed every station, they donned their helmet and ruck, which weighed approximately 45 pounds, and marched for a mile.

Soldiers arrived visibly exhausted after the march. Some sweated profusely, while others simply moved a little slower compared to how they started.

Once complete, Soldiers had to clear, disassemble, reassemble and perform a functions check on an M-240 machine gun to finish the challenge.

Some Soldiers cited the warrior ethos when asked what motivated them. Others found motivation in Smith's memory.

Sgt. Dustin R. Hinkle, a team leader assigned to 3rd Platoon, 760th EOD Company, said that in his opinion, the hardest event was the ruck march. He said he was tired from the earlier tasks, but the memory of Smith helped him get through it.

"We made him proud," he said.

Hinkle and his two team members, Pfc. Adam C. Tibbles and Spc. Ryan J. Croniser, also from 3rd Platoon, 760th EOD Company, won the event.