FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Dozens of Soldiers sweated through the late summer heat Sept. 17 during the Iron Aviator competition; however, only one Aviation Captain Career Course student earned the coveted title.
David Pease finished the race in 1 hour, 46 minutes and 8 seconds, after completing a 4.5-mile rucksack march, 10-kilometer bicycle ride, 2.6-mile run around post and a 300-meter swim in Flynn Pool.
"I think it's swell," he said of taking the Iron Aviator honors. "It's a good workout. It's a personal challenge and something to do in my free time."
Pease, who recently returned from an Iraq deployment, beat nine other individual competitors to claim the title.
Four AVC3 members, known as team Purple Killbox, beat six other teams with a time of 1:44:41.
Purple Killbox consisted of Troy Hokanson, Cameron Keogh, Mike Schultz and Rob Holcroft.
"It was a team effort and a good cap to the course," said Hokanson. "We spend the whole course trying to build teams and make connections. A competition is always good to build esprit de corps."
The four men said they played Frisbee together and concentrated on their individual competition sports to prepare for the race.
Todd Wolford was the only non-captain competitor. The lieutenant colonel finished in second place for individuals, in 1:50:29.
"It's nice to get out with the younger guys," he said. "You get to go out and build that camaraderie. Everyone's competitive."
AVC3 leaders conduct an Iron Aviator competition once a quarter, allowing all students to participate, according to Maj. Ron Smith, AVC3 small group leader for A Company, 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment.
"Anything physical, these guys thrive on," he said. "It's a good opportunity to bring everybody together at the end of the course and spend time before they go to their next duty stations."
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