Days are just getting easier each day, I think. The workouts still throw me from time to time because of the new exercises that I’ve never heard of, but I also find myself capable of doing things I didn’t even know existed, and had I known about them I would not have thought myself capable, like Alligator Push-ups! Have you ever tried to do push-ups and crawl at the same time? If so, you were doing Alligator Push-ups. They were part of the Valor Challenge today!
My day started with Arms Day at the gym. I was able to increase my weight some, using 15 and 20 lbs. for most of my arm work, still using 8 and 12 pounds for some tricep work, but to be honest my arms were the weakest part I had doing into the challenge this time around! It was good to have the regular routine here at least and I was able to just crank through it all.
Immediately afterword however, was Valor Challenge, which after Arm Day, was quite the challenge. Because I had increased my weight for Arm Day, my arms were considerably less capable than usual and were having a hard time with the Alligator Push-ups requested. The overall Valor Challenge set was 4 rounds of: 100 Step-ups, using a weight vest if needed, 100 m Run (I did a 300 meter recumbent bike), and 10 Alligator Push-ups. Because my Arms were already pretty toast from earlier, it took me a little longer than I expected, with a final time of 31:36 to get it all done. But I dug in and got it done! The rest of the Valor Challenge information from Mission Six Zero is as follows:
Deliberate Discomfort
VALOR CHALLENGE
SGT James Matthew Treber, U.S. Army (Green Beret)
As you go through the challenge, please think about Sgt James Matthew Treber. This Valor Challenge was suggested by our teammate, Joe Serna.
21 July 2008: On Saturday, near Khosrow-E Sofla in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan, Treber’s Humvee rolled into a riverbed on a night patrol. Treber and two other members of his unit drowned.
He died doing exactly what he wanted to do. The military was in James Treber’s blood. “It’s something he wanted to do when he was in high school,” said his father, Gordon Treber.
Just seven months after his wedding, Treber was deployed to Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Only two months into his deployment, Treber and two other members of his company were killed when their RG-31 mine-protected vehicle rolled. After recovery efforts performed by the rest of the combat convoy, Sergeant First Class Joseph Serna was found alive but suffering from hypothermia and hypoxia.
An investigation into the events that led to the rollover of their RG-31 MRAP was conducted by the Combined Joint Task Force – 101.
Serna’s sworn statement reveals that, in the immediate aftermath of the rollover, he was trapped in the passenger compartment by ammunition cans and unable to free himself as water began filling the vehicle.
“I was covered in ammo cans so I couldn’t release my seatbelt, at which time the water began to fill up inside the cab (and) I became totally submerged in my seat,” Serna said in his statement, according to the release. “I felt a hand come down and unfasten my seatbelt and release my body armor. Sergeant Treber picked me up and moved me to a small pocket of air.”
That air pocket originally was Treber’s, who had been sitting one seat ahead of Serna during the operation.
However, once Treber freed Serna from where he was trapped, he left that air pocket to Serna after determining that there was not enough air in that particular pocket for both men to breathe as the two struggled in the darkness against frigid and rising water, the release said.
“He knew there was not enough room for both of us to breathe so he went underwater to find another pocket of air,” Serna stated. “Once he re-emerged we attempted to open the door and hatches with no success.”
Serna’s statement indicates that he blacked out shortly thereafter and, before his comrades were able to save them, Treber, Simmons and Rada Morales all died.
“Sergeant Treber’s selfless actions are in keeping with those traditions internalized within the ranks of our regiment,” Brigadier General Michael S. Repass, commander of U.S. Army Special Forces Command at Fort Bragg, said in the release. “Valor and sacrifice were not mere words to Sergeant Treber. Rather, he lost his life living the Warrior Ethos. The great sacrifice and courage which soldiers like Sergeant Treber exhibit each day inspire us to protect the values and ideals of this great country.”
Treber was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group based at Fort Bragg. During his 2-year, 7-month military career, Treber earned the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.
Good luck today, guys. May your workout honor his memory. D.O.L.
-Jason B.A. Van Camp
From there I was able to get my cardio in at the gym, due to heavy rain, and was able to post 2.27 miles in 45 minutes, which was a pretty decent time, although I’m thinking of increasing my speed soon and seeing how I do.
I’m still behind on some of my reading of my book this week, Start With Why, but it’s been very interesting learning the difference between companies that promote themselves with the What they do or the How they do it, instead of promoting themselves with their Why they do it. Those companies that promote themselves with their Why statement, end up growing beyond their products into lifestyle brands like Apple and Starbucks. They are not just a computer and a coffee company, they are a company that thinks differently and a company that is an experience instead of a purchase.
The only other things I’m behind on are my bible studies, which aren’t directly Challenge related and aren’t required, but I’m hoping to get them caught up tonight and tomorrow as well. I will get them caught up, One Way Or Another!