75th Ranger Regiment

Watch “Big Mountain Heroes”, Healing Veterans Holistically

We all know or are ourselves in various stages of a love/hate relationship with the Veterans Administration. And most of us know that the vast majority of the VA is staffed with dedicated doctors that truly want to help our veterans. But that like any huge bureaucracy, that help is often caught up in an endless sea of red tape.

And in that, the VA is often just using drugs as therapy rather than a holistic approach to cure rather than just treat the symptoms is…at times, infuriating. We’ve all been there. But there are other ways to treat our veterans.

One alternative method was tried by Hurricane Media’s Brandon Webb, a former Navy SEAL, and best-selling author. His idea was to bring several Special Operations veterans from various services and units together, bond them together in a challenging yet beautiful environment at Chamonix in the French Alps and use extreme sports and the outdoors as a way of healing the entire person and not just by using drug therapy.

Webb, Nick Betts, and Jason Kenitzer from Hurricane Media brought together these veterans and filmed their experiences in the Alps and put together the film, “Big Mountain Heroes”, which is now available on YouTube.

It is beautifully filmed with gorgeous shots of the French Alps, but arguably the best shots are the closeups of the vets themselves. Getting lost in the extreme adventure of conquering the difficulties of the mountains, the years of stress and physical pain are melted away, if only for a few days.

“Big Mountain Heroes” was recently awarded the award for Best Action Sports Short at the Mammoth Film Festival recently. We encourage all of our readers to check it out.

Will this kind of therapy work for everyone? Of course not. But it does show there are alternatives out there. As someone who is never truly happy unless he’s doing something worthwhile outdoors, I wish someone had been around to offer myself a chance at something like this when my service was done.

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Talos “Iron Man” Was Always A Pie in the Sky Option For SOCOM

Opinion: Coming back to reality was the first order of business for USSOCOM this winter. The command finally admitted that the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit or TALOS project was not even close to being a reality, which we reported after attending the SOFIC Conference in Tampa two years ago.

The entire concept was flawed from the outset. The way it was configured, the suit would have weighed close to 600-700 pounds. An operator weighing that much would be in more danger falling thru 2nd story floors he may encounter in Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq than he would from enemy action.

Back in 2013, SOCOM first unleashed its idea for constructing a close-quarters combat suit that was based on the suit that Marvel Comics made famous in the “Iron Man” films with Robert Downey Jr. While obviously not nearly as technologically advanced as Tony Stark’s suit, it was supposed to be the next big thing. The Russians, always one to copy a bad idea if it means trying to one-up the United States, announced plans to build their own version of TALOS.

SOCOM Acquisition Executive James Smith put all that hoopla to rest recently when he told an audience at the 30th Annual SO/LIC Symposium & Exhibition that TALOS is out of reach of our current efforts.

“It’s not the Iron Man. I’ll be the first person to tell you that,” he said. It never really had a chance to succeed, but SOCOM continued to pump money into a dry well, as recently as January of last year looking for a new round of proposals from contractors for a workable potential TALOS design.

Thankfully, reality has set in and the money spent on pie in the sky money pits can be better spent elsewhere. “When we get the exoskeleton here in a few months, we will have the best exoskeleton in the Department of Defense,” Smith added. “It will not be something our operators will feel comfortable putting on a close environment today. So, moving, shooting, communicating in the face of enemy fire … not quite there yet.”

Also in May two years ago, we reported about a much less sexy but eminently more workable solution that was already being tested by Lockheed-Martin. Their system works, doesn’t make an operator the size of a pickup truck and doesn’t need a battery bank that will light up Manhattan.

Lo and behold, the Army was testing this system called “Onyx” back in June with members of the 10th Mountain Division at the US Army Natick Labs to get a clear picture of how well this system will work. In our original piece, we noted that Lockheed-Martin had already tested this exoskeleton extensively with an American Special Operations unit and they put the unit thru the paces jumping up and down on walls, staircases and humping heavy loads around a simulated battlefield.

So, no, Lockheed-Martin didn’t build a suit that will protect an operator thru a nuclear blast, fly thru the air like Superman and shoot laser weapons that will knock down tall buildings…but one that will protect an operator’s knees and back by easing the amount of weight those joints bear in the day-to-day operation of conducting special operations.

Finally. SOCOM is ditching the sci-fi geek projects that will do nothing for the operators in the field for the next several generations for ones that will help our operators today…and tomorrow.

The current design has a much smaller profile than the TALOS and only is worn from the hips down. And it works…what a concept. Sensors on the exoskeleton report the soldier’s speed, direction, and angle of movement to an onboard computer that drives electro-mechanical actuators at the knees.

The exoskeleton delivers the right torque at the right time to assist knee flex and extension. The exoskeleton ultimately reduces the energy needed to cross terrain, squat or kneel. These benefits are most noticeable when ascending or descending stairs or navigating inclined surfaces.

This system boosts leg capacity for physically demanding tasks that require repetitive or continuous kneeling or squatting, or lifting, dragging, carrying, or climbing with heavy loads.

With the added news that our operators may soon be getting upgraded weapons systems that will increase the range and effectiveness of their weapons, 2019 is at least starting off on the right foot.

But sci-fi geeks can take solace that Smith didn’t rule out better armor for operators. “We’re not going to stop looking for better body armor, better situation awareness, better lethality,” he said. “We’re going to keep looking at all of those things.” Maybe a “Predator” helmet with an integrated laser cannon?

For now, I’ll take a workable exoskeleton that will ease the burden on our operator’s knees and backs….I wish we had that a generation ago.

Photos: Marvel/Lockheed-Martin

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Learn How To Prepare For Cold Weather Prior to Selection

Because most of our military bases are in the southern United States, one area that can be neglected, especially when preparing for Special Operations training is cold weather training. It is surprising how many young people who enter the military don’t know or understand the basics of cold weather preparation.

First some of the basics; despite most of the selection courses being conducted in the southern United States, it can still get cold and wet down there and everyone should always be prepared for the odd snowstorm, even down south. We had one SFAS class out at Camp Mackall that began with a storm that dropped about 5 inches of snow out there. And it wasn’t much fun for the candidates or the cadre until it melted away.

And in today’s never-ending war in Afghanistan, you will have to deal with very cold weather and snow in the mountains, as well as numerous other areas of the world that you’ll be working in.

Your body’s tolerance to the cold is much more difficult compared to the hot weather. Body heat is lost much faster from heat transfer from the skin, your body, especially your head. The human body has more difficulty maintaining its internal temperature in these conditions.

Generally, the more fit a person is, the easier it is to maintain body heat production in colder weather than unfit couch potatoes. But even in fit troops once heat loss from your body exceeds heat production, your core body temperature will begin to decline.

Once someone’s internal body temperature drops below 95°F, hypothermia can develop, which can result in shivering, confusion, fatigue, and slurred speech. Reductions in internal body temperature can result in abnormal cardiac rhythms and eventually death.

Some of the more common winter or cold-weather injuries such as frostnip, frostbite, and immersion foot are an issue for troops. Frostnip and frostbite occur when skin temperatures fall below 32°F and are most common in exposed skin, but can also occur in clothed hands and feet. Immersion foot occurs when the feet are cold and wet and the troops can’t or haven’t changed into dry socks/boots.

So, what are some of the tricks of the trade for candidates to follow?

Rest and Eat Well Before Working Out:

One of the most basic of needs for the body is enough sleep. It is even more important when working in a cold weather environment because your body has to work extra hard just to maintain your core body temperature.

If you’re going to begin a long workout outside, eat a light meal with easily digestible protein and carbs before beginning. Also, keep some light snacks in your pockets to keep your energy and body’s fuel up during the day.

Dress in Layers:

Knowing how to dress for the cold and having the proper gear is of paramount importance. Next to your skin wear some tight-fitting compression material that will wick moisture away from your body. After that, your next layer of clothing should be looser fitting. Don’t forget your head and neck area where a lot of body heat is lost. One great piece of equipment is the neck gaiter that the military issues. Keep your head covered with a watch cap or similar type winter hat.

It is imperative that your socks, boots, and gloves always stay as dry as possible. Layer another set of clothing if the weather is severe and warranted. And wear a shell type windbreaker over your clothing to keep your body heat inside and dry.

Once you begin working out and body heats up, some of the layers can be removed to keep from over-heating which can lead to hypothermia if you get and stay wet. We always carried a parka on top of our rucksacks in case we stopped for an extended period of time. It can be put on and taken off quickly and really comes in handy.

Warm Up Well Before Starting:

One of the issues we all have to deal with in the cold is that your joints are cold and stiff. And a proper warm-up before beginning not only should involve getting all of your joints moving around but does what it is intended to do…warm up your body and getting your internal heat built up.

Getting the blood flowing to all your extremities is very important and static stretching in the cold isn’t recommended at all. Save that for after you get the blood flowing. Get all your muscle groups going with some full range of motion exercises.

Drink Plenty of Water:

This is one area that we harp on all the time in our daily PT Prep workouts and we’ll continue doing that here. Why? Because we’ve all been guilty of neglecting the one area that has to be maintained and that is proper hydration.

When working in the cold, you’ll notice that you won’t be as thirsty as in the hotter environments. But that’s just Mother Nature playing a trick on you. The need for water is just as great in the cold weather as it is in the heat.

Try to keep the water as lukewarm as possible during heavy work in the cold weather environments and continuously drink during the entire day.

And whenever working in the cold, or even in the hotter climates, don’t leave home without your Woobie, the venerable poncho-liner, arguably the greatest invention ever made for the U.S. military. That came in handy and has traveled with me, even today to over 40 countries around the world.

This is just a few basic tips and as you get more experience in the cold, you’ll learn more and more like anything else, it involves trial and error. You’ll learn what works and doesn’t for your own body.

Last week we posted about snowshoeing to keep up your workouts in the snow. Yesterday we had a huge melt as temps went to around 60 degrees. Tonight we’re expecting ice storms, so tomorrow’s workout will be fun…and interesting. So stay prepared for anything and nothing will stop you from attaining your goal.

Photo: DOD

Courtesy of Special Operations.com

Don’t be a Babylonian, stick to those new year’s resolutions

We hope that all of you had a fantastic, happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. And now that the holidays are over we can, hopefully, get back to somewhat of a normal schedule. As we’re all creatures of habit, to varying degrees. And the New Year is the subject of today’s piece here. Specifically those pesky New Year’s Resolutions. Because we are creatures of habit, every year most Americans seem to make resolutions on New Year’s Eve that by mid-January are already forgotten.

Which begged the question, “Who started New Year’s resolutions?” and are they are a relatively recent phenomenon? If you thought that we came up with it, you’d be in error.

The act of New Year’s resolutions goes all the way back to the ancient Babylonians, about 4000 years ago. Yes, the ancient people of what is now Iraq, about 100 miles or so from Baghdad were the first recorded people to make New Year’s resolutions. Their new year coincided with planting season, which was around mid-March.

The Babylonians would reaffirm their loyalty to the king and then promise the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. If the Babylonians kept to their resolutions the gods would bestow good fortune on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—judging from how things are in Babylon/Iraq today, it doesn’t appear too many kept their resolutions to their pagan gods.

The Romans too, appear to have celebrated their ritual of New Year’s resolutions. And they can thank Julius Caesar. In between conquering a few countries, Caesar, around 46 B.C. changed the Roman calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the new year.

January, named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, the month held a special significance for the Romans. They believed that Janus would look back into the previous year and ahead into the future. So they would offer sacrifices to Janus to have good fortune in the coming year.

Which brings us to the present… C’mon admit it, you’ve made those resolutions and between my time in SF, later as a contractor and here at SpecialOperations.com, we’ve made them and heard a lot more.

Some of the better ones we’ve heard as they relate to joining Special Operations are these, so take note! If you make any of these, write them down and make sure that you follow through with them in 2019:

Being a Volunteer For SOF:

When I was in SF and later as a contractor, I came across many, many good troops who just needed a kick in the right direction. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the following statements: “This is the year, I’m volunteering for SFAS”, or “as soon I come back from this deployment, I’m putting my packet in.” Or the dreaded, “I’m just waiting for the right time … to put in my packet.”

Guys, (and now girls), there is no right “time” to volunteer for SOF, you either will attempt it or not. If you’re waiting until the time is right and conditions are perfect, you’ll be old and gray and your window of opportunity is long gone.

Don’t wait, every day that you delay, that is a day that is forever lost that you can be a member of the greatest fraternity on earth. There will always be distractions, commitments, and things to pull you away from what you want to do. Don’t allow it to happen. Set the goal and stick to it.

“This Week I’m Going to Get Serious About My PT Prep”:

Oh, this is another one I’ve heard so many times, if I had a dime for every time someone said it, I could trade in my Caddy for a new one. Once you submit a packet for Selection and you’ve been accepted, the onus is on you and you alone to get ready. Most units in the military aren’t going to give you time in your normal duty day to prepare. It will have to be done on your own time.

So don’t waste a minute of it. Remember, once you walk in the door at Selection, you are telling the cadre that you’re ready to be assessed. And that’s the wrong time to wish you spent more timing carry a ruck and practicing your rope climbing skills etc.

We post a daily PT prep program here, 7 days a week in a four-month window to help you prepare. We’d encourage you to follow it and you’ll be ready. But if you don’t care for ours, there are several great programs out there that may be more to your liking. Or do your own prep. It doesn’t matter how it gets done as long as its done and done correctly. Train like your future depends on it…it does.

“I Still Have Plenty of Time to Break in Those Second Pair of Boots”:

Ouch! This is another common, often huge mistake. As we’ve stated here in the past, your feet are your lifeline in Special Operations. Next to your brain, your feet are the most important parts of your body when you are in SOF. Treat them right and they’ll carry you for thousands of miles over the course of your career.

Boots wear out, it is a fact of life. You may have a pair that fit like a glove but eventually, those will wear out. What then? If the answer is you planning on putting on a pair that are barely or worse, not even broken in, then you are on the fast track to failure.

This is a no-brainer. Have at least two pairs and optimally three that are as broken in as they can be. Your feet will thank you and you’ll find your Selection experience will not only be less painful but a tad easier as well. Rest assured, your feet will get wet at one point or another in the course. Change them out every day and your socks frequently, as needed.

“I Don’t Have Time For Continuing Education”:

This is another common issue among troops across the board. I was guilty of this one myself. While I was in the military, I signed up for every correspondence course or distance learning the military offered. But it wasn’t until almost half my career was over that I started taking civilian courses whenever the time would allow itself.

Today with the internet in place, even in remote bases overseas, the opportunities are there to take courses often. You won’t always be able to, especially during deployments but your education doesn’t have to stop, and shouldn’t while you’re in the military.

Colleges and universities today are much better at working with military students who are interested in continuing their educations. Take advantage of what’s out there.

So, here we are in 2019, and while the year has just begun, the work never stops and there are “no days off.” Did you make any resolutions this year? I didn’t and haven’t in a few years now. However, if you do, do it right. Write them down, make a plan and then see it through. Make yourself one of the 20 percent. It was posted on social media that up to 80 percent of resolutions made by people have failed by February.

In Special Operations, failure isn’t an option, so ensure that it doesn’t happen.

Let’s all make a resolution to go rucking more in 2019…Who’s ready? Let’s Roll.

Photo: DOD

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Perfecting an Exoskeleton for SOF Needs To Happen Now

Today’s military is much more technology-based than in previous eras but while the high-tech gadgets make the soldier’s job easier and much more lethal on today’s battlefield, it also weighs them down more than ever before.

The price of having the technology at their fingertips is that, while all of that gear works and is vital, but it also has to be carried and all of it adds up. Eventually, normally many years later after toting the gear a pack animal used to carry, those long humps under a heavy rucksack will take their toll.

It is common for Special Operations troops to have a very high preponderance of knee, back and shoulder woes after a career in the military. In our day, we used to joke about carrying over 100-lbs of ‘Lightweight’ gear. And it is only going to get worse down the road considering how much more they have to carry now.

Operators today carry more weight into combat than any army in history. Think about that for a moment and the long-term ramifications for the health of the force. Take a look back in history and it plays out.

The Roman Legions did have pack animals, but only one for every eight Legionnaires. So, the average light infantryman carried about 60-100lbs of gear plus his arms. They were expected to complete 20 Roman miles (29.62 km or 18.405 modern miles) with 20.5 kg in five summer hours, which was known as “the regular step” during the march.

During the Revolutionary War, both the Redcoats and Rebels carried about 60 pounds of gear with them on the march. That remained the same during the Civil War. Although the soldiers wore the thick woolen uniforms which made their marching in the summer an exercise in itself.

But during the 20th century that would change. During World War II, the normal infantryman for the United States carried about 82 pounds of gear into battle. If that man was a BAR (Browning Automatic Rifleman) gunner, it would jump to 99 pounds.

During the Falklands War between the Brits and the Argentinians in the early 1980s, British infantrymen were frequently toting rucksacks in excess of over 120-lbs over long distances. During the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, a Marine officer, Aaron Ferencik wrote about his troops at one time carrying nearly 200-pounds. Think he’s exaggerating? Think again.

Which is why the military needs to perfect and begin to field the new exoskeletons that are currently being tested by the U.S. Army’s Natick Labs. We’re not talking about a ‘pie-in-the-sky’ TALOS Iron Man suit which isn’t even close to being ready for testing. That is probably at least a generation away.

No, the one being tested, right now is the very workable version by Lockheed-Martin is called the ‘Onyx’ and it is a computer-controlled exoskeleton that counteracts overstress on the lower back and legs and increases mobility and load-carrying capability. It boosts leg capacity for physically demanding tasks that require repetitive or continuous kneeling or squatting, or lifting, dragging, carrying, or climbing with heavy loads.

We wrote about this system about 18 months ago after seeing it at SOFIC (Special Operations Command’s Industry Conference) and speaking with the techs involved with the project in Tampa. The Onyx is designed to enable SOF operators the ability to carry heavy loads for long distances without using up their own energy, especially when climbing steep inclines, such as troops are doing on a daily basis in Afghanistan. Operators can climb 60-degree gradients without a loss of energy from a human standpoint, the idea is they want to maximize the metabolic efficiency of the operator.

Onyx uses the FORTIS Knee Stress Release Device (K-SRD). The K-SRD system is a computer-controlled exoskeleton that counteracts overstress on the lower back and legs and increases mobility and load-carrying capability. It boosts leg capacity for physically demanding tasks that require repetitive or continuous kneeling or squatting, or lifting, dragging, carrying, or climbing with heavy loads.

Sensors on the exoskeleton report the soldier’s speed, direction, and angle of movement to an onboard computer that drives electro-mechanical actuators at the knees. The exoskeleton delivers the right torque at the right time to assist knee flex and extension. FORTIS K-SRD ultimately reduces the energy needed to cross terrain, squat or kneel. These benefits are most noticeable when ascending or descending stairs or navigating inclined surfaces.

The Army is testing it with grunts from the 10th Mountain Division. When we met with the good folks at L-M last year, they told us about some operators from an Army Tier 1 unit that had already put it thru its paces, carry heavy weight, navigating small narrow streets, climbing up and down hills, even crawling thru a tunnel. One operator after just a few minutes of training leaped with all of his gear on to a table.

Both the Russians and the Chinese are experimenting with testing out their own exoskeletons. The Chinese version looks much like the Lockheed-Martin one does….imagine that?

The ‘Onyx’ isn’t bulky or too cumbersome and allows the operator the freedom of movement where he can be as agile and nimble as without it. It will, however, allow the operator to do his job without all of the weight he’s carrying be subjected to his own joints.

Not only will this save the operators’ bodies now and to be fresher during ongoing missions, but they will suffer fewer long-term injuries. That may not be visible today, but 10-15 years down the road? Most definitely.

After rucking three times during the past week, I can feel the aches and pains creeping back in my own knees and back. And I don’t wish that on anyone today…well maybe our enemies…DOL

Photos; Lockheed-Martin

Rucking early Christmas morning, no days off

Before celebrating Christmas with the family today it was time for some exercise. I was up before the sun and since everyone was sleeping in as we had been out late visiting family on Christmas Eve, I decided to take advantage of the quiet time to get some rucking in…and to work off some of the food I ate last night.

As I’ve said before, I love to go rucking in the early morning hours. It is therapeutic for your brain, most especially after a very long, stressful Christmas week. It is a very relaxing way to start the day, you get a good workout in and are prepared for whatever is going to get flung at you the rest of the day. Af our six-miler on Sunday, I figured another 5-6 would be a perfect way to begin Christmas morning.

Right behind our house are some large power lines that run for miles and are peppered with hills that make it a perfect rucking location. The terrain is broken up in spots, at times the trail can be pretty muddy or rocky. Today, however, the ground was still frozen from the cool night (about 29-30 degrees) from Christmas Eve.

Our rucking trail today, the power lines. With rolling hills, differed terrain and perfect weather on Christmas morning

Since moving here about a month ago, I’ve gone out a few times to test out the trails and they are pretty challenging especially after the torrential rains we had here about a week ago that turned much of it into a muddy morass.

The mud added to the rucking workout, and my legs were doing a slow burn after navigating a few of the hills. It does slow down your pace but at the same time, just like rucking in soft sand, it will better prepare you for what is bound to come once you get to Selection.

In Special Operations especially if you are a candidate to get in, there are no days off and it is a good mindset to get in whether you are waiting to get to Selection or an old fart like yours truly. It will serve you well. And I encourage you to test the waters and try different things. Don’t always do your rucking on nicely manicured trails or roads. As we all know…at some time the weather will turn to crap. And once you have the pleasure of rucking in lovely Camp Mackall in SFAS when the trails turn to a muddy mess, you’ll be glad you did.

My Bulldog was actually eager to head out with me this morning…good deal. Although I love the solitude of rucking alone, she doesn’t say much and is generally good company. I popped my iPod in and being in the Christmas spirit, I put on AC-DC “Back in Black” and off we went on another adventure.

As always with my ruck, and as yours should be, the 45-pound sandbag is packed up high between the shoulder blades as much as possible, in my case, inside the radio pouch of my ruck. As I was humming along and probably singing a bit out loud with “Back in Black”, I got a glimpse by my workout partner over her shoulder…as if to say that I was disturbing her solitude. Go figure.

I’ve found when rucking hills that it is beneficial to use the waist strap cinched so that, the weight rides more on your hips and not on your shoulders. This will allow you to loosen your shoulder straps up so that the weight isn’t all on them and your lower back, the weight will ride more on your hips. Ensure that the waist belt is snug but not too tight nor too loose. It requires a little bit of trial and error.

Everyone knows that I am an unpaid spokesman for Merrell boots and swear by them but today I was wearing an old pair of Belleview desert jungle boots that a buddy of mine gave me when he came home from Iraq with a bunch of brand new boots. I normally wear these just kicking around the house for yard work but I grabbed them and headed out with them today as they are super comfortable.

So, as this shows, you can never have too many boots broken in when you get ready to go to the course. Two pair that fit like a glove is the absolute minimum. Can’t state that enough.

After about a mile or two…“Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution…” and I’m getting that look again. Whatever dog, I’ll turn it off and we’ll walk in silence for a bit, so I’ll stop getting those looks. We paused briefly to let the dog do her business and back on the trail.

I had planned on picking up the pace on the second half of the journey but the ground is pretty broken up here and my partner is quite content to lope along at a leisurely pace. And the morning is nice enough to make her pant a bit. So we paused again and after I took a big long drink out of the Camelbak I gave her some as well. Although the temperature was only about 30, there was (for once) no wind and the sun felt pretty warm.

Giving my partner a breather and a drink. And yep I needed some water too.

And our frequent public service announcement when it comes to rucking. I decided to forego picking up the pace this morning…Age does have its perks. However, you must learn to increase your speed without resorting to running. It is like any other skill you acquire and hone, it requires practice, practice and more practice. But trust me, if I can learn how to do it, you can too.

Running with a rucksack puts an incredible amount of stress on your knees. But as always temper it with the reality of the situation at hand. Without trying to sound like a hypocrite, I did write this:

“They’ll be times in your Selection course or the Qualification course that you’ll have to make up time or want to pick your pace, especially on the downhill slopes. At those times, you’re going to have to do what you must.”

Remember the standard is a 15-minute mile pace to pass the course. That is the minimum. You should be aiming to go much lower than that. I used to keep about a 12-minute per mile pace. It is plenty fast enough for where you’ll finish a 12-mile ruck march with just over 30 minutes to spare and is a pace that you can keep up for an even longer distance.

As I mentioned I took a short break to hydrate and then I realized that I hadn’t been drinking as much as I should during the ruck. With the cooler and cold weather, sometimes your thirst reflex isn’t as strong as the summer. But it is a good habit to get into during training to continue to push water all the time. If you get into the habit now, you’ll keep it up during the course. When you are even a little bit dehydrated, it affects the cognitive aspects of the brain. It can adversely affect mood, energy levels and the ability to think clearly. And you’ll need all of those to be working overtime in the Selection course.

My partner senses we’re heading home and she picked up the pace. I didn’t even have to. Gotta love it. The last two miles flew by at a nice quick pace. I said the heck with it and turned the music back on. “Giving the Dog a Bone” …. Don’t stare at me pooch, those are their words, not mine.

Beautiful day to go rucking, Merry Christmas to all, I hope your day was a great one. Ready to go do it again? Me too. DOL

If anyone has any questions, feel free to send them along to [email protected] or at my Twitter page @SteveB7SFG and I’ll be glad to answer them.

Photos: DOD, Author

*Originally published on Special Operations.com