HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - Like the contestants on the CBS reality competition show "The Amazing Race," about 60 people spent the morning of March 12 running around Hunter Army Airfield trying to complete tasks to get their passport stamped during the first-ever Hunter Army Airfield Amazing Race.
"This is a good opportunity to get out and have fun with my boys," said Chaplain (Capt.) Chris Campbell, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, who took part in the event with sons Adam, 11, and Noah, 7. "We really appreciate events like this."
The event kicked off at Hallstrom Lake, where participants were given their Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation passport, which they carried to each of the seven points of the race to have stamped as they completed the allotted task.
The race began with a kayak across Hallstrom Lake. The participants then took off to the Skeet Range, where they hit targets with a paintball gun, and onto the golf course, where they were challenged to drive a golf ball at least 70 yards three times at the range.
After hitting the links, the contestants headed to Hunter Lanes, where they had to bowl a strike before they could move to the next stop - the Commissary, where they had to find the hidden milk man.
With just two events to go, participants ran to the Squires Sports Complex, where they hit three softballs into the outfield of one of the baseball diamonds, then ran across Duncan Drive to Tominac Fitness Center, the final stop, where they had to make three free throws to complete the race.
"I love the show Amazing Race," said 1st Lt. Christopher Jones, 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, who ran the course with Sgt. Arthur Merritt, also of 1/3 Avn. "I've always wanted to be on the show, and figured this is the closest I'd ever get to being on it."
Those who took part had the option to either complete the race on foot, on their bike or in their vehicle. The first runners to complete the course were 1st Lt. Jones and Sgt. Merritt, and they received two raffle tickets each for completing the course on foot. Those who went through the course in their vehicles received one raffle ticket.
"I think I have more of a feeling of accomplishment from running," said Sgt. Merritt. "My wife is deployed, so I needed something to occupy my time, and I wanted to show her that I could do it."
The unit with the most participants was awarded $800, and it went to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Other prizes were given through a raffle - a flat screen TV, a Wii and Wii Fit.
"This event really brings the Families together, and gives them the opportunity to explore the things available to them on post," said Millard Jones, the director of FMWR at Hunter. "Plus, it's a conditioning exercise that gives them the chance to get out and challenge themselves."
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