New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011

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New Mexico National Guard team completes “Toughest event on the Planet” By Tammy Scarlott-Maynard Want to test your physical and mental toughness? How about your team skills? How about all three at the same time on a grueling 12-mile obstacle course? That’s the pledge a team of New Mexico National Guard Soldiers made when they entered a unique event called “Tough Mudder” June 25-26 in Beaver Creek, Colo. Staff Sgts. Joshua Maynard, David McCloud, Aaron Garcia, Sgts. Monterey Herrera, Nicolas Escandonroguett and Spc. Mark Currier from the 1st Battalion, 515th Regional Training Institute Warrior Leader Course, entered this year’s event as Team Tracer Burnout 2011. Tough Mudder has been termed the “toughest event on the planet” by many. This 12-mile event was designed with the help of British Special Forces and is intended to test physical and mental strength beyond what most typical endurance races do. It is not a timed race and tries to avoid identifying with the term “race” as they consider the event to be a personal challenge for each participant to complete the grueling course. The company Travlete awarded Tough Mudder the “Best Adventure Race” for 2010 (http// travlete.com/2010/12/28/year-in-review/). The philosophy behind the event is to support camaraderie among the participants, as many of the 23 military obstacles in the 12-mile course require the help of a fellow teammate. With the focus of not fi nishing for time, many of the teams begin and end the challenge together. While the event itself attracts many U.S. military for its inventive series of obstacles, its main focus is to raise money for a most worthy cause, the Wounded Warrior Project. Each Tough Mudder event raises millions of dollars through entry fees and spectator donations. This year’s Beaver Creek event was said to have raised $3,000,000 on this occasion alone. Team Tracer Burnout pledged to begin and fi nish this Tough Mudder as a team. 8 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Fall 2011 Tammy Scarlott-Maynard, wife of Staff Sgt. Josh Maynard, said she is proud of each and every one of them for their commitment to one another and their professional goals. For some of them, it was their fi rst long distance obstacle course. Initially, many of these instructors took on the challenge to participate because of the absurd obstacles and the enticement of an event that appeals to their adventurous spirit. However, after fi nishing the course, they each earned a new sense of pride and a desire to further their physical and mental fi tness. Their hope is to challenge more men and women of the New Mexico National Guard to commit to a course of physical training that places an emphasis on team building and accountability. They also plan to have a large representation of New Mexico National Guard Soldiers at the event planned for Albuquerque in 2013. Watching these men cross the fi nish line together was a proud moment for a wife as well as a proud moment for the New Mexico National Guard. They truly embrace what it means to be an American Soldier and to live “Beyond the Standard.
Offi cer Candidate School Class 55-12 Back row, from left, Benjamin Jensen, Michael Simpson, Katherine DePalo, Jose Cabezuela, Thomas Etterling. Front row, Jordin Martin, Jerome Bustamante, Daniel Soliz, Antonio Garcia, Keely Wells. The Offi cer Candidate School Class 55-12 completed the consolidated Phase I in Salina, Kan. June 10 – 24 , 2011. The class consists of 220 offi cer candidates from eight different states. Phase I is the fi rst step in the OCS commissioning process in which candidates are evaluated in various leadership positions. They must also complete a 5-mile foot march with a 35-pound ruck sack, conduct day and night land navigation, cover operations, training management and leadership doctrine. New Mexico led the way by having the fastest female, Offi cer Candidate Katherine DePalo, complete the 5-mile foot march with a time of one hour and 21 minutes. All ten candidates completed Phase I successfully and advanced to Phase II. Fall 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 9
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Page 6 and 7: 226th Military Police Battalion tra
Page 8 and 9: Engineers conduct AT on the border
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Page 14 and 15: B Co., 1st Bn. races away with TAG
Page 16 and 17: Joining the offi cer ranks Six cand
Page 18 and 19: By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State
Page 20 and 21: 1116th Transportation Company 1116t
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Page 24 and 25: 150th Fighter Wing honors their hom
Page 26 and 27: NEWS BRIEFS The NMNG welcomes a new
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Page 30 and 31: By Sgt. Suzanna Dominguez, State Pu
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New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011

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