FORT DRUM, N.Y. (July 21, 2016) -- Oil and water, toothpaste and orange juice, history and physical exercise: these things usually don't work well together, but 2nd Brigade Combat Team has mastered the skill of combining the unlikely pair of history lessons and a workout into what is known as Commando Avalanche.
This year, Commando Avalanche sought out approximately 180 2nd BCT senior leaders who had not already earned the privilege of writing their names in the official Commando ledger or carrying a Commando Card.
These Commando hopefuls were divided into 10- to 12-person groups to compete Thursday and Friday at Division Hill on Fort Drum in an event that nurtures teamwork, celebrates 2nd BCT's history, emphasizes the importance of staying in top physical shape and builds personal relationships across the brigade.
"In the end it's a competition, but these leaders meet and interact with people they usually wouldn't work with and form these relationships," said Capt. Tom Shively, operations officer, 2nd Brigade Combat Team Headquarters. "You also develop unit pride and identity, so you know where you and others come from and eventually form a group identity."
Teams completed a six-mile foot march that included seven battalion history stations along the way. Each stop focused on a significant event in the unit's history, and it was coupled with a timed physical challenge that all team members had to negotiate before they were allowed to continue onto the next station.
At one of the stations along the route, 210th Brigade Support Battalion Soldiers had created a simulated resupply mission that forced competitors to sprint across a 200-meter field, gather and return with materials from a waiting supply station, and organize them into the different classes of supply groups.
After the sprints, teams immediately had to retrieve and start moving with stretchers of life-size mannequins to simulate a medical evacuation.
After the resupply mission, the teams returned to "pounding dirt" to the next station hosted by 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, where they were greeted by two prize "horses," which in reality were two brightly colored wooden road blocks.
The objective of this station was to recreate the actions of Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Hershel F. Briles, who in World War II risked his personal safety to save the lives of his fellow tankers, save military equipment and cause heavy enemy casualties.
Second Lt. Melanie Hayes, chemical officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1-89 Cavalry, and lane officer in charge, described what she learned from Commando Avalanche.
"It takes a lot to be a leader in the Commando Brigade, but it's really great to come out here and work together. No matter what obstacle, whether enlisted or officer, everyone's giving 100 percent," she said.
Throughout the day, teams met all different types of obstacles that included strenuous and continuous movement drills, squats, low crawls and rope climbs, all while being quizzed on the battalions' decorated histories. If teams failed to answer correctly, the repetitions increased.
"This event brings a lot of camaraderie," explained 1st Lt. Raymond Deacon, executive officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment. "It brings everyone together, and it's a good PT (physical training) session. I've learned that I can push myself a bit more, especially compared to what some of these Medal of Honor recipients have done."
After the conclusion of the foot march and battalion stops, teams were immediately subjected to a layout of all of the equipment they had been carrying in their ruck sacks. Each missing piece was another point deducted from their total score.
Following the short layout, team members were corralled into a board in front of the brigade's senior leadership and 2nd BCT's battalion command teams, where they were tested even further on the history of the Commandos and its subordinate units.
Each board member was allotted two questions. If a team failed to answer a question correctly, members were considered unworthy of being a Commando, and they would be re-admitted in front of the board when the board deemed fit.
This two-day event concluded with an awards ceremony. The first-place team was determined by the members' overall time to complete the seven events as well as their enthusiasm and teamwork.
Members of the winning team were each awarded an Army Achievement Medal and a four-day pass at the discretion of their commanders, second place earned a three-day pass, and third place earned their Commando Card.
All other participants each received an official Commando Card, and they are now inducted into the Commando legacy.
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