JOINT SECURITY AREA, Panmunjom, South Korea - On the afternoon of May 25, 29 members of the Joint Security Area Security Battalion move along “Rice Patty Road” with combat gear and camouflage; some carrying bandoliers of Claymore Mines and AT4’s strapped to their rucks.
They are making their way to Observation Post Dora, one the main strategic locations for observing enemy activity within North Korea.
This is just the first three-mile leg of the 24-hour, 23-mile test known as the JSA Imjin Mungadai Leadership Challenge.
Genghis Khan created an elite group of soldiers designed lead and conduct themselves on difficult missions while travelling far with little provisions. This is the spirit of the JSA Imjin Mungadai Leadership Challenge, which is focused on leadership development.
Each Soldier is provided an opportunity be either platoon leader, platoon sergeant, squad leader or team leader, rotating with each mission.
Lt. Col. Edward Taylor, UNCSB-JSA commander, dispenses guidance and mentorship to the platoon leader and platoon sergreant while Maj. Kevin Zammert, UNCSB-JSA executive officer; Maj. Perry Stiemke, UNCSB-JSA operations officer; and Battalion Command Sgt. Battalion Andres Ortiz provide the same to the junior leaders.
The exercise leads them throughout the local area performing tasks such as land navigation, urban orienteering, Army Combatives and other Soldier tasks. They also were required to work together to overcome challenges, such as a rope bridge, leader reaction obstacles and small unit tactics.
The final stretch took them 15-miles along the southern boundary of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, constantly able to view the land that so preciously separates the free Republic of Korea from the Communist North Korean regime.
The pinnacle was reached at an elevation of 697 feet atop Mount Paek Hak marked by giant monolith bearing the 1st ROK Infantry emblem and the words “Go Forward”.
The Soldiers then descend to Camp Bonifas where there mission is complete and they earn the coveted Mungadai Knife.
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