Team HT-18 Wins 2011 All-Military Wilderness Challenge

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Team "HT-18" from Helicopter Training Squadron 18 (HT-18), from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., were named the 2011 All-Military Wilderness Challenge champions, Oct. 8, with a winning overall time of 7:30:47.

Team "Motor City Racing" from Coast Guard Medical Clinic in Detroit, Mich., came in second with a time of 7:34:08 and Team "Paradoxical Trinity" from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., was third with a time of 7:40:17.

The challenge was sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Region, Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department, Naval Weapons Station (WPNSTA) Yorktown and ACE Adventure Resort, West Virginia's largest outdoor outfitter. More than 100 military personnel representing all five branches of the armed forces competed in a series of five outdoor adventure races over two days in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains and on the New and the Gauley Rivers in West Virginia.

"We wanted to finish first," said Cmdr. John Guillinan, U.S. Navy, HT-18 team captain. "At the end of the first day we were up by three minutes, so we started thinking we can do this. On day two, we pushed ourselves hard to get to the finish."

Teams participating in the Wilderness Challenge competed in an 8K mountain run, a 10-mile mountain bike race, a 15-mile forced hike through the mountains, a 14-mile whitewater raft race on the Gauley River and a 7-mile kayak race on the New River... more than 50 miles covered in two days.

"It's not so much about first and last place, it's about completing the challenge and competing as a team," said Lt. Cmdr. Bill McNerney, U.S. Navy, from Team "52's Exodus" from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 52. "It's cheering each other on and pulling them through when they're having a hard time. It's the satisfaction of completing it."

For some of the challengers, it was not only the spirit of competition, but the chance to compete against the top athletes in the military.

"It was so competitive, but there's really good camaraderie out there, nobody's trying to cut the legs out of the other team, everybody's in it to do their best," said Cmdr. Greg Scherle, U.S. Coast Guard, from Team "Motor City Racing."

"That's what's really exciting about this...everybody's competing but in the same sense, rooting for the other team," he added.

In its 11th year, the All-Military Wilderness Challenge is reaching commands from across the United States and as far away as Germany, including two teams comprised of "Wounded Warriors" from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va. They received recognition from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who sent a letter of congratulations to the competitors.

"This competition brings together the best athletes from all the branches of our armed forces. Each of you has been put to the test, as you have found the terrain in our state both wild and wonderful," he said. "While it has been a grueling few days, and we celebrate the winners, this competition is about teamwork and those values which are the most important victory in the end."

The top teams from each branch of service were recognized at the awards ceremony. For the U.S. Army, Team "Ninja Gorillas" from 114th Signal Battalion, Fort Detrick, Md., were first with a time of 9:19:05. For the U.S. Air Force, Team "Cunning Linguistics" from Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va., were first with a time of 10:48:21. For the U.S. Navy, Team "Tail Radial Turn" from Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Fla., were first with a time of 7:44:10. Team "HT-18" also took top honors for the Marine Corps and Team "Motor City Racing" for the Coast Guard.

"This event could not have happened without the great teams that competed this year or without the vision and leadership of Mike Bond, our MWR director," said Capt. Lowell Crow, commanding officer, WPNSTA Yorktown. "This is a world class competition bringing together the best athletes the military has to offer."

Even as this year's competition comes to an end, participants and organizers are already preparing for next year's Wilderness Challenge, building on the success of this year to make it even better.

For more news, visit www.navy.mil.