JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Like many fall days at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in western Washington, rain and wind is a part of Army training. On Nov. 24, the weather was especially nasty with heavy rains, 15 mph winds and temperatures in the mid-20s.
However, for approximately 240 Soldiers from the 593rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) the weather was just one more obstacle to endure as they trudged their way through more than nine miles of various stations to test their resilience, physical and mental toughness.
These Soldiers competed in the Rest Assured Challenge, a quarterly training event aimed at building morale and team cohesion in 593rd ESC Soldiers. This is the fourth iteration of the competition, and according to Capt. Winston Sims, operations officer, 593rd ESC, the RAC is getting bigger and more complex each time.
"The Rest Assured Challenge intent was to challenge the well-trained, discipline and motivated Soldiers," said Sims.
For this challenge, Soldiers started the competition at different intervals, looking to complete seven stations throughout the course. The stations included overhead squats, tire flips, various patient carries and an obstacle course. Those who finished in the top 10 received an Army Achievement Medal and a four-day pass, enough incentive to bring out the best in the competitors.
Sgt. Tyler Koon, a team chief, 51st Signal Battalion Expeditionary, was one of the top finishers of the day. He was the first in his group to complete the course with a time of 1:17:19, even though this was his first time competing in the RAC.
"The RAC was very challenging and tough," he said. "My outlook for the competition was to get through the course with a first-time go, take my time, keep a good pace and complete the course in an outstanding time."
As soon as he finished, Koon cheered on the rest of his teammates as they crossed the finish line.
"This is not about how fast or slow you are," he said. "It is about supporting each other as a team, motivating each other, and building camaraderie with your battle buddies."
Most competitors learned something about themselves while on the course. Some were physically challenged by the obstacles, others were mentally challenged by the twists and turns of the route. Still others had to call on resiliency skills as they began to tire and feel the effects of the cold weather.
"The RAC enhanced the physical and mental challenges by creating tough events during the competition to build resilience," said Koon.
At the end of the competition, after all Soldiers had crossed the finish line, they patted each other on the back and moved inside to find a warm beverage and re-live some of the more memorable moments.
"It was a great challenge and an excellent competition as we tested our competitive spirit and resilience skills," said Sims.
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