<B> DAHLONEGA, Ga. -</B> During this era of persistent conflict, Soldier deployments to the Iraqi desert and the mountainous regions of Afghanistan are ever constant. And though a future deployment for the 3rd Infantry Division's 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team has not yet been determined, the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment is ensuring its troops are fit-to-fight in any environment.
Approximately 150 China Battalion Soldiers hiked 50 miles through the Appalachian trails, Aug. 18-21. After splitting up into squads of 13 Soldiers, the troops navigated through woodland hill slopes ranging anywhere from 3,000 to 11,000 feet.
The event, dubbed China Mile, was a first for the 3/15 Inf. Soldiers and catered to the 4th IBCT's new light-infantry mission.
"The purpose of light infantry is to be able to operate through restrictive terrain, to include jungles, mountains, and dense forest," said 3/15 Inf. Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Jeff Shoemaker. "Coming to North Georgia allows us to train in a mountainous environment and allows us to train our bodies to operate in the very demanding manner that the mountains require. And really, it's training we can't accomplish at our home station, Fort Stewart, because we don't have any mountains (there)."
First Lieutenant Frank Kirbyson, Company C, 3/15 Inf., said that though the China Battalion Soldiers have conducted a multitude of foot marches, the China Mile was imperative to the battalion's future missions.
"Out here, it was a real eye opener," 1st Lt. Kirbyson said. "We weren't really able to gauge distances. Our whole mentality of distance and time changed. We thought we had covered a lot more territory. So, it was really good to get out here, get to know the terrain, and get an idea of how things change in mountainous terrain."
The platoon leader added the event was two-fold, strengthening both Soldiers' bodies and Soldier relations.
"It helped us foster esprit de corps, bringing us together for something we haven't done before," he said. "(The Soldiers had) a lot of blisters and a lot of rolled ankles, but everyone pushed through it. No one wanted to quit. No one gave up."
First Sergeant Juan Serrano, Company C, said it was high morale that helped bring his whole team home.
"We started with 13 people, and at the end of 50 miles, we ended up with 13 people," he said. "Going through, some guys had injuries, including myself. I needed an IV three times. But, we continued to motivate each other in order to continue this challenge."
Lieutenant Colonel Shoemaker said completing China Mile required heart.
"You can't just trip your way into completing 50 miles," the battalion commander said. "You have to have that drive. And if you don't have that drive, then your buddy will help you motivate yourself to get to the end. There were a lot of teambuilding and bonds forged (at China Mile) because 50 miles is a long way to walk with your Soldiers."
Every Soldier who completed the 50 miles will be awarded a battalion belt buckle. The China Battalion hopes to conduct a similar event annually.
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