The Army expects its soldiers to be available whenever the nation calls. This means that they will be available at all times, anywhere and under any conditions.
The 10th Mountain Division, through heat and cold, or snow, recently learned how to truly own their environment as well as those who came before.
Excited, nervous, but excited. It was a relief to take the first step. It was nice, in that moment, one soldier stated as he stepped into the starting line.
Nearly 1,000 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division started the nine-mile, nearly 5-hour trek through Fort Drum in February after months and even weeks of preparation. It’s a timed-skills exam that will test both the mind as well as the body.
What you need to know
- Nearly 1,000 members of the 10th Mountain Division took part in a recent graded training exercise called D-Series Winter Challenge
- The Winter Challenge is a nine mile trek that tests soldiers’ ability under stress and fatigue. It lasts nearly five hours.
- The D-Series is a training event in our past, with the 10th Mountain Division training in the mountains in Italy in preparation for World War II.
- These soldiers are honored by the winter challenge
It was obvious that it would be hard work, but the 10th Mountain is a lover of work. We love the cold. We love snow. We were ready for it, stated Sgt. Eachean Pettis from Fort Drums 2nd Brigade Combat Team.
It is called the D-Series Winter Challenge. It tests division soldiers on their physical fitness, communication, and competitiveness. It also tests their ability to focus when they are tired or under stress.
Staff Sgt. said, “I think that was the best thing about it was getting out there to that stress shoot and seeing our dudes out in stressful environments and engaging a target.” Bradd Wyatt, 10th Mountains 2nd Brigade.
It can be exhausting to walk miles in the snow with all your equipment and do the stress shoot. This is a difficult test, but it’s also a way for soldiers to remember those who have gone before them.
D-Series refers to a training event 10th Mountain soldiers participated in in 1944 to prepare them for combat in the mountains in Italy during World War II.
What we do now is nothing compared to what they did back then. This is what motivates many of you. It’s how hard those guys worked back then that helps us stay motivated. They were so professional and skilled. Pettis said that it just motivates you.
You may be thinking, “Well, Fort Drums soldiers are used these conditions.” One of the 10ths Brigades, however, is actually stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana. For that team, the preparations for the event were a little different.
It’s important to have a positive attitude when you enter it. Staff Sgt. : It was nice to get here a little earlier to give us time to actually play in the area. Alexander Herkovich, 10ths 3rd Brigade Combat Team was stationed at Fort Polk.
Wyatt stated that Wyatt thinks we can all just relax and enjoy the fact that we just owned Fort Drum’s environment and the upstate North Country.
As we have seen in Europe, anything is possible. The 10th Mountain Division could be called in a matter of seconds.
After crossing the finish line, soldiers continued their training and headed inside to complete a written component. This is a way to practice focus under any conditions.
