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Triumph through teamwork

By Airman 1st Class Apryl Hall, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs / Published September 30, 2014

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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Air Force core values are the foundation for every Airman, but as an Airman grows, so must the values that live within. Some Airmen are driven by pride, others by perseverance and no doubt many focus on dedication. There is one quality, however, that Airmen are surrounded by every day, whether at home-base or abroad:  The ability to work as a team.

Recently, Minot Air Force Base was chosen as a test base for an Air Force initiative to incorporate more team-based training events at bases around the world. Twenty-four Minot Airmen from different squadrons came together to compete in the GORUCK Light Team Cohesion Challenge, an event only seven other AF bases have hosted. GORUCK leads team-building endurance events based on the experiences of their Special Forces cadre. The event consisted of completing special operations-like objectives during a five-hour ruck march.

"We did things that simulated all the events that special forces does," said Staff Sgt. Jason Montano, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle technician. "We did everything from ruck-marching to a location where we may have parachuted in, to infiltrating through waters and sewers, to finding a bomb."

Led by GORUCK Cadre Michael Stewart, some of their required tasks included low-crawling through a creek, carrying a telephone pole several miles, running and doing countless callisthenic exercises, all while carrying a weighted rucksack. There were certain time restraints on missions, and repercussions if the mission was not completed.

"When we get into country, we don't know what obstacles are going to be in front of us until we're boots on the ground," said Stewart, a prior Air Force combat controller. "I make these missions to mimic special ops, and I take that to the bases."

In order to accomplish their mission, the Airmen had to step out of their comfort zones.

"This is something that they wouldn't normally be exposed to in any other circumstance," Stewart said. "That just sparks the interest in wanting to push yourself further than your normal limits in anything you do."

In addition to adapting to new training techniques, the team of 24 was forced to work together throughout the entire event.

"It's nice to see how the Airmen totally come together for the mission and drive on," Stewart said. "We're hoping the Airmen who come out to these events are continually pushing themselves for the better."

While the participants encouraged each other through the trying obstacles, they also drew inspiration from another place; the flag that waved in front of the group, a requirement for the event.

"The flag up front is just an amazing visual for the members in the event," Stewart said. "Say it's hour five, you're positively exhausted, you're covered in sand and you're being led by the American flag. It's awe-inspiring."

No matter where the will came from, the group was able to successfully complete all their missions on time and was given the title GORUCK Light Team 008, a label that will never be used again.

"What I saw from everyone was the cohesiveness, the teamwork," Montano said. "Any time you get to unite with different people, you bring out the best in them or they bring out the best in you, when you're falling and they pick you up, there's really nothing like it. That's the genesis of what this is all about."
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