FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers braved the bitterly cold North Country temperatures March 5 to compete in the 2nd Quarter "Gauntlet Challenge."

The Gauntlet Challenge is a quarterly event designed to promote teamwork, physical fitness and fun while honing mental agility and tactical skills. The event consisted of land navigation across the snowy Fort Drum terrain, casualty evacuation via litter, calling in a nine-line MEDEVAC, and weapons assembly and functions checks.

Teams from Headquarters Support Company, Intelligence and Sustainment Company, Division Signal Company and Operations Company competed against one another and Mother Nature for the coveted Gauntlet Trophy. Their odyssey began with a briefing ahead of a ruck march on snowshoes as the bugle called at 7 a.m.

The teams navigated their way across fields and through the woods to conduct a photo reconnaissance. When they arrived at their next point, they evaluated and evacuated a casualty to a landing zone. The steep, snow-covered hill leading to the landing zone proved challenging as teams alternated positions on the litter to safely transport their casualty to the LZ.

After successfully calling in their nine-line MEDEVAC, the teams raced back to the HHBN classroom, where they found a box of disassembled weapons parts as their final challenge. Time stopped once the team assembled and conducted functions checks on M-9 pistol, M-4 carbine, and M-240B and M-249 machine guns. The top team completed the challenge in one hour and 28 minutes, and the final team finished in two hours.

"This was a great event and enjoyed by all the Soldiers," said Capt. Matthew Gowens, Operations Company commander. "It allowed us to get back to our heritage with snowshoes and test our current Soldier skills."

With the final points tallied and penalties deducted, ISC's team came out ahead to capture the trophy. This event gave each of the 40 participants a great physical training session and team-building activity resulting in high morale and fun for everyone.

The Gauntlet Challenge, although tough from the start, became a lot tougher as the temperatures dropped to 15 below zero that morning. Even though Spc. Anthony Sesmundo's ISC team finished first, he still considered the event to be very difficult.

"It was a tough challenge for everyone," Sesmundo said. "We would like to congratulate all who participated."