1st SFG(A) Unit Ministry Team Organizes White Water Rafting Trip

By USASOC News ServiceAugust 18, 2009

1st SFG(A) Unit Ministry Team Organizes White Water Rafting Trip
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) hold on to their raft during a Single Soldier Retreat Aug. 5 near White Salmon, Wash. The Soldiers rafted in an event designed to promote spiritual fitness and unit cohesion while conducting a healthy... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
1st SFG(A) Unit Ministry Team Organizes White Water Rafting Trip
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) hold on to their raft during a Single Soldier Retreat Aug. 5 near White Salmon, Wash. The Soldiers rafted in an event designed to promote spiritual fitness and unit cohesion while conducting a healthy... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (USASOC News Service, Aug. 18, 2009) - About 20 single Soldiers of 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) took a white-water rafting trip near White Salmon, Wash. Aug 5.

Chaplain (Capt.) Emmitt Furner, the trip organizer, said the retreat was intended to provide a challenging spiritual fitness training event that would help 1st SFG(A)'s single Soldiers build the spiritual and mental resilience needed to conduct their daily missions.

"Afterwards, we discussed the challenges of life," said Furner of post-rafting activities.

This trip was the second of several projected single-Soldier events scheduled this year.

Sgt. Van Davis, a chaplain assistant in the Group's Support Battalion, said one of main focuses of the trip was also to raise morale of the single Soldiers.

"We have to let them know that they aren't forgotten," said Davis of the single Soldiers.

For the Soldiers who participated, the trip was a great chance to break the doldrums that can come from daily routines.

"It was fun," said Pfc. Albert Palomino, a 1st SFG(A) human resources Soldier. "It's good to get out of the office."

Palomino added that he learned there are things to do outside the barracks that are fun and require good teamwork for success.

"It took all six of us in that boat to get through the trip," said Palomino. "I wouldn't have done anything like it (if 1st SFG had not sponsored the event)."

"I really had to overcome my fear of water," said Pvt. Rochelle Gomez, a military intelligence Soldier. "That's what I gained from this trip."

Gomez added that she "would do it again" if provided a chance.

Giving Soldiers a chance to receive high-quality, spiritual training while having fun made the day a true success for the members of the Group's UMT.