FORT POLK, La. -- To put their troops to the test mentally and physically, leaders from 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, conducted a crew challenge on Mountain Field Sept. 3.

The basic fighting element of the cavalry consists of three-man crews: a driver, gunner, and truck commander, said Sgt. Maj. Michael Stunkard, 3-89 Cav Reg squadron operations sergeant major. As the 4/10's reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition squadron, or RSTA, it is vital to have these crews fit to fight and bonded as brothers, said Stunkard.

"These events are key to everything we do. We need to test them physically and mentally," said Stunkard. "We need to test them under physical duress because nothing builds esprit de corps like shared hardship. The harder they work, the harder they push themselves, the closer the team comes together," he said.

To begin the challenge, crew members performed as many pushups as possible in two minutes, followed by sit-ups for two minutes and a 2.14-mile run up and down hills and through woods and thick brush.

The next task was pull-ups. Scorers timed crews as they pooled their remaining mental and physical resources to complete as many pull-ups as possible, with teammates switching out to keep their crew's tally going continuously. Finally, the crews donned assault packs and hit the trail for a foot march. They walked and ran from Mountain Field, past Marion Bonner Ponds and back to the starting point. To achieve the maximum 100 points for the foot march, each crew member had to complete the six-mile route in 90 minutes or less. At the finish line, scorers inspected the Soldiers' assault packs to ensure they complied with carrying a predetermined packing list.

Spc. Kristopher Moore, a gunner with 1st Platoon, Troop B, placed first in the run and foot-march events along with his truck commander, Spc. John LaPlante, and the crew's driver, Spc. Andrew Rose. Moore said the toughest part of the crew physical challenge was running up and down the hills. For him though, this type of training is all about having and showing heart.

"It was tough. If you can show heart here, showing heart in Iraq (or Afghanistan) isn't too hard," said Moore. "Show the heart, never quit, take care of your teammates, take care of your crew and guys will get through just fine," he said.

The crew challenge and similar training events create and cement bonds among crew members, making their relationships and teams a lot stronger, said Moore. Crew members rely on one another to get through tough times, he said.

Troop and squadron leaders pushed and motivated crew members, too. Troop A's commander, 1st Lt. Raizhe Manuel, performed push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups to motivate and inspire Troop A's 13 participating crews. Leading by example, he ran beside, and often in front of, his troops every step of the way.

"If you get out there and do what your troops do, they respect you more as a leader and it helps push them through the hard times," Manuel said.

Manuel said he believes fitness is the most important quality of a leader. His fitness level and motivation seem to have rubbed off on his Soldiers. He said each of his Soldiers gives 100 percent during daily PT, and it showed during the crew challenge.

"Anytime you can get out as a crew and (conduct) a team-implemented training, it is a good thing" said Manuel. "And that is what we are all about in the Army. We are one big team; and, starting out at the lowest level, taking care of one another and pushing one another, that is what it is all about."

One of Manuel's Soldiers is Staff Sgt. Ben Ambacher, a truck commander and section sergeant. After deploying to Iraq with 4th IBCT as a member of the brigade staff, Ambacher returned to 3-89 Cav Reg only two months ago, and he spent one month of that time at the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course. He said he realizes he has some catching up to do but he and his crew "had a blast" during the challenge, calling the competitiveness "awesome."

"I am a competitive type of guy naturally, so that pushed me a lot, (that) and seeing the guys that are in a lot better shape than me," said Ambacher. "I like to compete with the younger guys; I am 29 years old."

Ambacher said other units should follow 3-89 Cav Reg's example in getting mentally and physically ready for a deployment to Afghanistan because it is a completely different environment than they are used to.

"Afghanistan is high terrain and altitudes. The air is thinner, so you have to get used to that," said Ambacher. "Being (stationed) down south, you have to work harder to get used to the higher altitudes, and that is going to take its toll on us, mentally and physically."

After leaders tallied the scores, the crew of Sgt. Devin Lindgren, Cpl. Bryant Gotschall and Spc. Brandon Schessl from 1st Platoon, Troop A, won the physical challenge.

"Bottom line, we need to build the crews," said Stunkard. "If they know the men to their left and right are going to fight as hard as they are, and they know exactly where they are going to be and what they are going to be doing, we can always build on that."