Shoup Airlines

Uphill…Both Ways!

The last day of our FLX. We finally get to head back into garrison and escape the heat and humidity of Hades, enjoy a real shower and eat some real, albeit crappy food but still better than MREs at the DFAC. But first we have to ruck march the 6 miles back to garrison with 45 lb. packs through Hades. In less than 2 hours. And there’s the rub.

Up at a quarter to four, no one cares because we know it’s the last day of this horrible mess. It’s already 80° by the time we form up in two columns and get ready to step. Of course, we have to stand around for another 20 minutes with no explanation because you just always do that in the military. I’m not complaining, it gives me some extra time to do some more stretching. This one’s going to hurt.

With the sun still down, we’re able to keep a pretty good stride going for what I think is the first two miles. It’s still relatively cool but some of that is due to the fact that you’re completely drenched in sweat. Water is drunk like it is going out of style but there is always more to be supplied if you’re out.

As the sun finally arrives, a light overcast persists and continues to keep it just cool enough as we hit “the hill.” The photo doesn’t do it justice of course and I don’t know what the grade is. It’s steep, that’s all you need to know. Head down and lean into it, that’s about all I can do. I really feel for the road guards who had to run it! That had to suck. We break for a couple minutes as we crest the hill and then get a motivational boost as we realize the primary TAC is sucking wind and hurting. And he’s not a slouch by any means.

We finally round the corner and can just make out 1st WOC as we hear the other classes begin to cheer and welcome us back in. Bodies aching, blisters long since popped and muscles starting to cramp as we enter the company with a time of 1 hour and 52 minutes. You can see the physical drain in our faces, but it was our minds that kept us going. One candidate’s body completely shut down as she crossed the line and had to be carried to the staging area. Paramedics were called, IVs were stuck and she was carted off. Another heat casualty, but she bounced back amazingly the very next day.

It took nearly two days for most everyone to recover. My calves ached no matter how much I stretched them, occasionally waking in the middle of the night to fight off a cramp. But hey, it’s not like we have our final physical fitness test in 4 days! Oh wait, yes we do.