March 23, 2001
10th Group Wins Inaugural Water Infiltration Competition
Story and Photos by
Master Sgt Jim Culligan 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group

Recently a four-man team from 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) earned the title of champions in the first ever Special Forces Waterborne Infiltration Competition held in Key West, Fla. The competition was designed to test the waterborne infiltration skills used in the Special Operations units. Sgt. 1st Class Rolf Jensen, Sgt. 1st Class Bill Hoopes, Master Sgt. Jim Culligan and Capt Brian Petit completed the five-event course in nine hours and seven minutes.

Nine teams from four Special Forces Groups competed in the event, with the fastest overall time determining the winner. The competition consisted of six events: nighttime static-line airborne jump into the ocean, 1,500 meter surface swim, 15 nautical-mile kayak navigation course, 20 nautical-mile Zodiac Rubber Raiding Craft navigation course, 10-mile ruck-run and an obstacle course. Time started when the team exited the aircraft and the stopped when the four-man team completed the obstacle course.

“We planned our strategy and executed our plan”, said team captain Hoopes. Hoopes started the team off with a perfect “spot” as the C-130 lumbered over the dark, oceanic drop zone and the four-man team waddled off the ramp with swim fins already strapped to their feet. The team splashed into “Shark Drop Zone”, discarded their parachute equipment and had to locate each other in the water before beginning the mile surface swim to shore. The next leg of the competition was the kayak navigation course. Teams were required to plot their points and map a route taking into consideration wind, tides and obstacles, such as shallow reefs. All teams were equipped with two, two-man Klepper kayaks. The Klepper kayak has been historically used for military application by many Nordic countries and was adopted by the Special Forces units because it is light, silent, low-profile, easy to hide and it can carry hundreds of pounds of equipment. Jensen powered the 3rd Battalion team in this event and built a lead that the team would never relinquish.

Following the kayak, teams were required to transload their combat gear into a Zodiac Rubber Raiding Craft and plot another route to five navigation points in and around the “cayes” or small islands of Key West. This event tested the ability of teams to navigate to pinpoint locations in the dark of night with minimal navigation aids. “There are no terrain features out here. You must rely on your compass, your map and channel markers.”, remarked Staff Sgt. Shane Hagerman, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG (A) team.

Teams then transitioned to the ground phase of the operation: the 10-mile ruck-run. This event tested the team’s ability to continue on land after seven to ten hours on the water. Loaded with 70-plus pounds of gear, the teams pounded down the streets of Key West in the early morning hours. Jensen and Petit (both former Best Ranger Competition contestants) pushed the 3rd Bn. team to stay on the winning pace. The camaraderie of the Special Forces teams was evident as competitors hooted and hollered for each other as they passed by in the out-and-back course. The final event was the obstacle course. Cargo nets, barbed wire, high walls and rope climbs proved a great challenge after the night’s air, sea and land events. Veteran combat diver and Command Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG(A), Vic Allen, grunted through the obstacle course and crossed the finish line with his three team members. Fellow soldiers cheered the team who finished seventh overall.

After a few hours sleep, the competitors gathered for a barbecue and awards ceremony. Major General William Boykin, commanding general of US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School presented trophies and coins to the competitors. The three 10th Group teams soaked up the warm Key West sunshine before returning to the snowy Mountain Post.

Next task for these Special Forces soldiers:
Winter Warfare Training in the Colorado Rockies.

Thoughts on AR

Jen Moos, Mark Lattanzi and myself are off to the USARA Adventure Race National Championship
October 22-24, 2009 in Pilot Point, TX. This will be the debut race for the On Point Foundation (ImONPoint.org) race team.

Pilot Point Texas – here we come!

See you outside (in TEXAS),

Shane

Next up for the team……, Uncategorized

This gets me thinking about our teammates about to do the day of endurance this weekend.  The incredible scenery reminds me of Colorado – Brian and Shannon I am jealous!!!

UltraRunning from Matt Hart on Vimeo.

Thoughts on AR, Uncategorized

From the 25-26th of September I will be off racing with Ronny and Holly from Odyssey Adventure Racing.  We will be completing as a 3 person, coed elite team in the Bushwack 2009 Adventure Race down in the Raleigh/Triangle area of North Carolina.  This should be a great event, Bushwack Adventures and Don Childrey have a reputation of hosting great events.  On top of that – Ronny, Holly and I managed to get a great 10 hour training day in a few weeks ago and our teamwork was excellent.  Look for us racing as Odyssey Adventure Racing.

See you outside,

Shane

Next up for the team……, Uncategorized

Teamhalfwaythere.com will be working closely with the On Point Foundation.  Check them out at: www.ImONPoint.org

Here is who they are and what they do:

Our Mission:

Helping service members regain control of their lives through education, rehabilitation, services, and equipment.

ARE YOU ON POINT?

“On Point” is a military term referring to a person who takes the lead in a patrol or tactical movement. This lead individual carries the mission of guiding the rest of the unit and assumes the responsibility of protecting all that follow. That individual is known as being ON POINT!

Service members have always worked around the clock, devoting their life to duty. The attacks of 9/11 brought forth a new era for service members, along with the high price they would pay to protect our way of life. All service members have made sacrifices while some have paid the ultimate price in defense of our county and community. With the shifting economy and the ever present strain carried by our men and women in uniform it is time for us to be “ON POINT” and take responsibility for our service members.

On Point Foundation was formed as a nonprofit in 2009 by three former soldiers. With combined military experience of over 30 years, 20 years overseas experience, and 11 operational deployments – these three service members have now focused their dedication, knowledge, and love of country to “helping those who protect us”.

When deployed overseas and engaged in combat we put our trust in other organizations to protect our family and our way of life at home. These organizations do not violate our trust! The soldiers that founded On Point wish to honor and take responsibly for many service members, not just the members of the Armed Forces. We define service members as personnel – past or present – of the Armed Forces, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and federal agents.

On Point is dedicated to providing honest and valuable services that can truly make a difference in the lives of the people we sponsor.

Next up for the team……, Uncategorized

For Adventure Racing, I had a set of criteria I wanted to meet.  Durable, light, and comfortable.  These bikes may spend a portion of a race in the bottom of a canoe, be pushed through thick underbrush, and be ridden like an XC race machine.  After a lot of research and a few test sessions, I concluded that the Salsa Dos Niner was a perfect fit.

I have been riding, training and racing on a Salsa Dos Niner for just over seven months.  I am right at six feet tall, so already a good candidate for the 29er wheel craze.  I really like the way the bigger wheels roll over obstacles and take the edge off of small bumps, roots, washboard and trail chadder.  The Dos Niner is a softail (a shock in the back, the chainstays flex up and down, there is not an actual pivot, nor is there the associated pivot hardware).  Those big wheels coupled with the 1″ Relish shock in the back really makes for an efficient, fast and smooth ride.

Bottom line.  I like the bike so much I am seriously considering getting a Selma as my singlespeed training tool!

See you outside,

Shane

Gear Reviews

Overtrained and overraced.

So, the last two races were pretty miserable.  Thankfully I had great teammates to pull me through.  Lessons learned: don’t race at 100% plus, have completely debilitating lower body cramps (curled up on the side of the road – see the Odyssey One Day write up), throw your back out a few days later, take Percocet and Flexiril and think that is an adequate recovery and taper for a race 2 weeks after the blow up race!

Did I mention how lucky I am to have the teammates I have!

Thoughts on AR, Uncategorized

For this year’s Lionheart race, TeamHalfwayThere.com fielded three, 3 person coed teams.  I was fortunate enough to be racing with Jen and Jeremy again.  It was great seeing Doug Crytzer, and as always he puts on an incredible event.  This years race was a modified Rogaine format.  You choose which points to get while following a general overall route by, with, through and around Ohiopyle State park.

Doug surprised us this year with a short prologue up to the campground entrance and back.  Then a quick TA to our bikes and we rode straight up Sugarloaf Mountain.  About 1100′ to 2800′, as fast or slow as you raced  Another TA, drop the bikes and run 9 miles, mostly downhill to the Yough River and the put it for the Duckies.  Paddle downriver for a few hours and the takeout was just downriver from the central TA.  Out of the boats, in to TA and get on the rappelling kit.  Jog over to the bridge, do the rap and hoof it back to the TA.

At this point we are about 6.5 hours into the race, feeling good and staying competitive.  Time to do the Mount Laurel trail.  Fast forward about 1.5 hours, and I am not feeling well.  Let me surmise this trail:  1100′ to 2500′ to 1250′ to 2600′ to 1500′ to 2600 (ish)’ again.  In about 8 miles.  Did I mention I wasn’t feeling well?  Wow, I was completely in the hurt locker.  Jermey and Jen ended up grabbing my pack on portions of those uphills, they are both animals!

Next, it was off the trail, through a small town and down to the Yough (1200′).  Cross the Yough (straight across, we don’t need no stinkin’ bridges!) and about 7 miles up (the way we came down earlier) returning to our bikes (back up and over 2800′) on Sugarloaf mountain.  Anyone see a trend here?!?!  Ultimately, as the sun was disappearing and we were seeing our bikes again I believe we had logged a total of 31 miles on foot.

Time to bike.  We set off on the bikes with a good plan for all the points provided we could find a feasible way to hit CP12.  We didn’t.  CP 12 was dropped, we got the rest of the bike CP’s and I managed to convince myself we should see the top of another 2600′ mountain.  We did fall into some unmarked trails, got back to the the final first/last bike CP and descended the mountain back to the central TA.

We checked in, and I was completely destroyed.  Jeremy and Jen were very understanding.  As I dry heaved (nausea x 10 hours, nearly 0 food, alternating hot sweats and chills) Jeremy laid out a tarp.  I stammered something about this not being a 5 minute TA and he looked at me and said, “I know.”  The tarp was for the sick guy to crash on.  I grabbed a fleece blanket, and passed out.  In a few short minutes, Jeremy woke me up.  I asked him how long I had been asleep, he replied, “19 minutes.”  ”19 minutes?”  ”No, 90 minutes!”  Ugh!!!  They wanted to keep racing.  I didn’t.

I changed my mind, and we went off to bag a few more points.  Two very painful bike points later (with a lot of them pushing and pulling me), and we were on our way back to the finish.   Yeah, all done.

A special thanks to Doug Crytzer at American Adventure Sports for his direct sponsorship for his events.  Doug – we couldn’t do this at the level we do without your assistance.  Additionally, all our other sponsors, friends and families – without your help, acceptance of our addiction to this sport, and understanding we wouldn’t be out here doing this.  Thanks!!!

See you outside.

Shane

Race Reports

“The decisions you make trying to win a race are different than the ones you make just trying to finish.”  Jeremy said, as we were reviewing the race during our drives home.  What did we do right?  What did we do wrong?  Most importantly, what drove those decisions.

What did we do right?  Most importantly, we put together a great team.  Jeremy and I combined forces with Jen Moos and Mark Bolyard from Paradofobia.  We definitely had a great team dynamic and worked together through double flats, debilitating cramps, nausea, vomiting, thunder and lightening, difficult night orienteering points, rolled ankles and a complete front flip on a bike.  Although we didn’t achieve our goal of standing on the podium we had an excellent race.

What did we do wrong?  We made decisions on the race course that had they worked, we would have made up significant chunks of time.  But…they didn’t work and instead cost us both time and energy.  That takes up back to Jeremy’s opening comment.  We came to stand on the podium, made decisions commensurate with our goals and missed.

Next time!  :)

Ronnie from Odyssey truly put together an epic event.  A special thanks to him and his hard working staff.  As always, kudos to our sponsors – your support is truly appreciated!!!

Already focusing on the next race,

Shane

Race Reports

The title says it all.  We have two teams for the upcoming Odyssey One Day Race on 24-25 July, and are looking forward to another epic Odyssey event.  One team is comprised of Lukas, Christy, Aaron and Barry.  The second is myself, Jeremy and Jen and Mark from Paradofobia.  Of note is that although Barry is a long time Teamhalfwaythere.com team member, this will be his first 24 hour race.  Go Barry!!!  Follow our progress online at Checkpointtracker.com

See you outside,

Shane

Uncategorized