Who is the 'Toughest Talon'?

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea -- The cold blue water moved back and forth like the waves in an ocean. One after another, Soldiers jumped in with no hesitation. The water splashed against the side of the pool, spilling over onto the other Soldiers feet. With one hand, they held the edge and with the other a rubber rifle. They waited as still as a fishing boat in the middle of a pond and on the word "go" began treading the water to stay afloat and to keep their team's dream alive.

The Soldiers were from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade and they tread water for two entire minutes, as they held onto their rubber rifle as part of the "Toughest Talon" competition which was May 13 at various locations on Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea.

Sgt. Hilario Camacho, a small-arms repairer for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion, 2nd CAB, was part of the team that won the competition.

"The swimming event was very challenging for me in particular," Camacho said. "I put forth my best effort though because I did not want to let my team down."

The 602nd ASB's team may not have won the swimming event, but they did win a majority of the other events which included a weapons rodeo, stress shoot, ruck march, CrossFit and warrior tasks.

"We accomplished the mission as a team," Camacho said. "The events really pushed us to our limits."

Pvt. Elizabeth Leist, a petroleum laboratory specialist from the 602nd ASB, was another Soldier from the winning team.

"I only found out one week ago I would be on the team," Leist said. "I jumped at the great opportunity to compete in this competition, and it was well worth it."

Leist said she believed their team was well prepared and had a plan going into every event.

"We used amazing teamwork and motivated each other every step of the way," Leist said.

The 602nd ASB team completed a 10 km run the previous weekend to the "Toughest Talon" competition. They decided as a team to do it with their rucksacks to help them get ready.

"When we started the ruck march today, it felt just like it did on Saturday," Camacho said. "It made us better prepared and ready to go when it was time."

The 2nd CAB commander, Col. Hank Taylor, was with the Soldiers during the ruck as well as all of the other events to motivate his troops.

"These Soldiers are trained, disciplined and ready to fight tonight," Taylor said. "I want them all to go back to their units and know that they are the 'Toughest Talons'.

These Soldiers may have started the day treading water, but they finished it on top.