BOSS
BOSS is One Tough Mudder by Lisa Taylor Are you a Tough Mudder? On June 16, 2012 Fort Campbell’s Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program took 15 single Soldiers to the Badlands in Attica, Indiana to find out if they were strong enough to be Tough Mudders. You may be asking, what exactly is a Tough Mudder? Well, let me tell you- Tough Mudder is not your average mud run or endurance road race. I would even say it makes Ninja Warrior look like child’s play. One blogger wrote, “It’s Ironman meets Burning Man!”
In reality Tough Mudder is a new type of team endurance challenge that places participants through an intense obstacle course that was created by British Special Forces. Each obstacle was designed to test a person’s all around mental and physical stamina, endurance and camaraderie. “A lot of the obstacles required a mass amount of teamwork. If you didn’t have teammates there wasn’t a chance you could do it by yourself,” said SPC Carol Sheffield, one of the lucky (and the only female) participants in the June 16 challenge. With names like Arctic Enema, Boa Constrictor, Electric Shock Therapy, Fire Walker and Everest, you can just imagine the types of obstacles participants must master to become Tough Mudders. Each course consists of 10 to 12 miles of
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hills, mud, water, ropes, underground tunnels, 12 foot walls, 10,000 volts of electric shocks, and fire designed to push you to your limit. Each event incorporates local terrain making each challenge unique. This means no two courses will ever be the same. As the event moves from one location to the next, participants can experience a whole new set of challenges! It is estimated that approximately 15 to 20 percent of participants do not finish the challenge. Over half a million people have participated in Tough Mudder challenges since it was first introduced to the world in 2010, and they have raised over $3 million dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. The Fort Campbell BOSS program proudly represented the 101st with SPC Drew Pearce displaying the 101st Division flag as he led the way! During the challenge, spectators recognized the 101st Airborne Division flag at which point the BOSS team and spectators began singing the 101st Airborne song! This really shows you the type of support and encouragement participants receive during these events. “The BOSS program chose to take Soldiers to Tough Mudder as a team building exercise because this challenge is something you absolutely cannot do on your own. We feel this event was a great way to instill strong team values while having fun,” said BOSS Vice President, SPC Gary Yim.
Out of the 15 participants who went to represent Fort Campbell, there was a mix of enlisted Soldiers as well as Officers. What is so great about the Tough Mudder challenge is that rank doesn’t matter. Everyone is part of the same team working towards the same goal! What an amazing experience, one that re-enforces what the BOSS program values every day. Participants are expected to be team players by making sure no one gets left behind. Mudders are asked to exhibit teamwork and camaraderie both on and off the course and before each event everyone joins in to recite the Tough
Mudder pledge As a Tough Mudder I pledge that: • I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge. • I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time. • I do not whine – kids whine. • I help my fellow Mudders complete the course. • I overcome all fears. Do you want to see if you have what it takes to be a Tough Mudder? Contact Fort Campbell’s BOSS program to find out when the next trip will be scheduled! For more information about upcoming BOSS events, email: boss@fortcampbellmwr.com, call (270) 798-7858 or stop by the BOSS office located inside the D.W. Recreation Center at 6145 Desert Storm Avenue.