thedrifter
05-20-06, 07:39 AM
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO(May 18, 2006) -- Blistered feet, sore legs, hot sun, pouring sweat and heavy packs — the Marines are humping again. The Basic School’s Alpha Company conducted their final conditioning hike May 11.
The company consisted of about 275 Marines and eight international officers. The Marines were separated into six platoons representing every military occupational specialty. For the conditioning hike, also known as a hump, there was a seven-ton vehicle for carrying Marines and a water bull; an ambulance; and a truck loaded with numerous five-gallon water jugs, boxes of fruit and a set of bagpipes.
The Marines stepped off for the hump at 6 a.m. and hiked through the trails of TBS at a four-mile-per-hour pace with 10 minute breaks about every hour. The Marines carried packs loaded with chow, water, and a sleeping system. Along with the packs, the Marines wore full fighting loads, which consisted of a flak jacket, Kevlar helmet, 782 gear and rifle.
During the hump, the company stopped four times in total, which allotted the Marines time to do what they wanted, whether it be eating, hydrating, going to the bathroom, or seeing a Corpsman.
“We don’t like to micromanage them; they’re all Marine second lieutenants,” said Capt. Tolar, 4th platoon commander and the company’s physical training representative. “If they want to stretch out, that’s fine. It’s up to them if they want to change their socks or not.”
In a tactical column, the Marines kept strong to their turnaround point. Many Marines celebrated being half way done with the hike, but many were also not sure if they could cover that distance again with the sun now above the tree line and beating down on the tired warriors.
With the third break approaching, the Marines motivated each other. At the break, they were rewarded with fruit to keep them going. After the break, the Marines left the trail and hit MCB-1 road, which took them to Application trail, where they rested one last time.
While the leathernecks rested with fruit and water, one lieutenant moved up to the point truck to give his classmates a treat.
For the last mile, 2nd Lt. James McKeon, still in combat gear, motivated the company with songs like the “Marines Hymn” and “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. The extra motivation could not have come at a better time as the column moved along the pipeline, a series of rolling hills that squashed motivation and energy in one fell swoop.
As more obstacles arose, so arose more treats as the Marines came to TBS’ Iron Mike statue, where the commanding officer and sergeant major congratulated them on their difficult journey.
“Iron Mike is kind of like the cornerstone of a Marine officer,” Tolar said. “It’s just like, ‘follow me.’ That is where we started our first conditioning hike, and it just seemed appropriate to finish our last one the same way.”
About four and a half hours and 15 tiring miles later, the hump was over. The Marines got in platoon formation, marched into the parking lot and dropped their packs.
After heart-felt congratulations from the company commander, the students were issued their own Alpha Co. challenge coin from their student platoon commander.
Five Marines were not able to finish the hike, but they will have an opportunity to make it up May 26. They will still graduate June 8 with the rest of their company.
“You can’t let embarrassment demotivate you,” said 2nd Lt. Kristopher Hansen of 3rd platoon, who fell out of the hump around mile 12. “You have to pick yourself back up and learn from it; get back on the horse and ride.”
Hansen had leg cramps beginning around the sixth mile, which only got worse as time went on. With the help of a Corpsman, he realized his problem was in his hydration plan. He drank almost only Gatorade to try to get a “leg up,” instead he got a leg cramp times two.
“I couldn’t believe it, that’s never happened to me before,” he said. “I have no worries for next time, I’ll live and learn. I made the wrong decision, but I’ll get the right mixture next time.”
Another problem which caused Marines not to finish the hike was a stomach virus.
A stomach virus that struck 3rd platoon earlier that week gave many of their Marines hydration troubles. One of the Marines who fought his way to the end was 2nd Lt. Virgil Usana of 3rd platoon.
“I’m usually a good hiker,” Usana said. “The weather changed fast. This was our first hike in the heat. On top of that, my stomach hurt when I drank, so I wasn’t hydrating as much as I needed to.”
One of the other Marines who had the virus fell out after four miles of hiking, and a Corpsman had to administer an intravenous injection. Usana said he started hurting around mile 11 and was extremely thankful for the last break; he did not think he would make it without one. When the company hit the pipeline, his cramps were taking their toll.
“The bagpipes were really the inspiring thing for me,” he said. “My Marines helped motivate me and reminded me to hydrate. By the end, I was drifting and my classmates had to hold me steady. When I got that coin, I just really felt like I earned that coin.”
Throughout TBS’ training curriculum, classes conduct five conditioning hikes, beginning with a six mile and ending with the 15 mile. The 15 mile hump is the only mandatory one.
“Humping is a test of mental and physical condition,” Tolar said. “We had no clue how the company would do because it’s anybody’s guess. The effects of little changes, such as getting sick or not drinking enough increases exponentially when performing a task like that.”
Pending every Marine’s completion of the hump, Alpha Co. will proceed to graduate June 8, and the lieutenants will check in to their MOS schools and be one step closer to the fleet.
Ellie
The company consisted of about 275 Marines and eight international officers. The Marines were separated into six platoons representing every military occupational specialty. For the conditioning hike, also known as a hump, there was a seven-ton vehicle for carrying Marines and a water bull; an ambulance; and a truck loaded with numerous five-gallon water jugs, boxes of fruit and a set of bagpipes.
The Marines stepped off for the hump at 6 a.m. and hiked through the trails of TBS at a four-mile-per-hour pace with 10 minute breaks about every hour. The Marines carried packs loaded with chow, water, and a sleeping system. Along with the packs, the Marines wore full fighting loads, which consisted of a flak jacket, Kevlar helmet, 782 gear and rifle.
During the hump, the company stopped four times in total, which allotted the Marines time to do what they wanted, whether it be eating, hydrating, going to the bathroom, or seeing a Corpsman.
“We don’t like to micromanage them; they’re all Marine second lieutenants,” said Capt. Tolar, 4th platoon commander and the company’s physical training representative. “If they want to stretch out, that’s fine. It’s up to them if they want to change their socks or not.”
In a tactical column, the Marines kept strong to their turnaround point. Many Marines celebrated being half way done with the hike, but many were also not sure if they could cover that distance again with the sun now above the tree line and beating down on the tired warriors.
With the third break approaching, the Marines motivated each other. At the break, they were rewarded with fruit to keep them going. After the break, the Marines left the trail and hit MCB-1 road, which took them to Application trail, where they rested one last time.
While the leathernecks rested with fruit and water, one lieutenant moved up to the point truck to give his classmates a treat.
For the last mile, 2nd Lt. James McKeon, still in combat gear, motivated the company with songs like the “Marines Hymn” and “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. The extra motivation could not have come at a better time as the column moved along the pipeline, a series of rolling hills that squashed motivation and energy in one fell swoop.
As more obstacles arose, so arose more treats as the Marines came to TBS’ Iron Mike statue, where the commanding officer and sergeant major congratulated them on their difficult journey.
“Iron Mike is kind of like the cornerstone of a Marine officer,” Tolar said. “It’s just like, ‘follow me.’ That is where we started our first conditioning hike, and it just seemed appropriate to finish our last one the same way.”
About four and a half hours and 15 tiring miles later, the hump was over. The Marines got in platoon formation, marched into the parking lot and dropped their packs.
After heart-felt congratulations from the company commander, the students were issued their own Alpha Co. challenge coin from their student platoon commander.
Five Marines were not able to finish the hike, but they will have an opportunity to make it up May 26. They will still graduate June 8 with the rest of their company.
“You can’t let embarrassment demotivate you,” said 2nd Lt. Kristopher Hansen of 3rd platoon, who fell out of the hump around mile 12. “You have to pick yourself back up and learn from it; get back on the horse and ride.”
Hansen had leg cramps beginning around the sixth mile, which only got worse as time went on. With the help of a Corpsman, he realized his problem was in his hydration plan. He drank almost only Gatorade to try to get a “leg up,” instead he got a leg cramp times two.
“I couldn’t believe it, that’s never happened to me before,” he said. “I have no worries for next time, I’ll live and learn. I made the wrong decision, but I’ll get the right mixture next time.”
Another problem which caused Marines not to finish the hike was a stomach virus.
A stomach virus that struck 3rd platoon earlier that week gave many of their Marines hydration troubles. One of the Marines who fought his way to the end was 2nd Lt. Virgil Usana of 3rd platoon.
“I’m usually a good hiker,” Usana said. “The weather changed fast. This was our first hike in the heat. On top of that, my stomach hurt when I drank, so I wasn’t hydrating as much as I needed to.”
One of the other Marines who had the virus fell out after four miles of hiking, and a Corpsman had to administer an intravenous injection. Usana said he started hurting around mile 11 and was extremely thankful for the last break; he did not think he would make it without one. When the company hit the pipeline, his cramps were taking their toll.
“The bagpipes were really the inspiring thing for me,” he said. “My Marines helped motivate me and reminded me to hydrate. By the end, I was drifting and my classmates had to hold me steady. When I got that coin, I just really felt like I earned that coin.”
Throughout TBS’ training curriculum, classes conduct five conditioning hikes, beginning with a six mile and ending with the 15 mile. The 15 mile hump is the only mandatory one.
“Humping is a test of mental and physical condition,” Tolar said. “We had no clue how the company would do because it’s anybody’s guess. The effects of little changes, such as getting sick or not drinking enough increases exponentially when performing a task like that.”
Pending every Marine’s completion of the hump, Alpha Co. will proceed to graduate June 8, and the lieutenants will check in to their MOS schools and be one step closer to the fleet.
Ellie