An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Airmen prove they are 'Tough Mudders'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alexy Saltekoff
  • Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON, Ga. --  Capt. Kelli Rabideau proudly wears her bruises, scrapes and cuts like a badge of honor. Last weekend, she and 10 other Airmen battled 20-degree temperatures, and some would say, better judgment to complete the Tough Mudder, a grueling 11-mile obstacle course near this north Georgia city.

Among her prizes for completing the physical challenge: shin splints, body aches and a headband. But the ultimate payoff was she and a few hundred of her new closest friends helped raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.

According to the Tough Mudder website, more than $2.6 million has been raised to support thousands of warriors returning from the battlefield. The Wounded Warrior Program provides stress recovery programs, adaptive sports, benefits counseling, education and employment services and other programs that aid the healing of the mind, body and spirit of American veterans.

Designed by British Special Forces as one of the toughest obstacle course events on the planet, Tough Mudder tests all-around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie. Events are held on five continents.

Rabideau and her Air Force teammates were put through unimaginable challenges in the North Georgia event. They ran through fire, waded through waist-deep mud, swam through icy waters and experienced jolts of electricity to earn the vaunted headband.

The team: Rabideau, Senior Master Sgt. Robert Vazquez, Master Sgt. Brandy Kerr, Senior Master Sgt. Richard Roneree, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Galvin, Master Sgt. Paul Flipse, Tech Sgt. Misty Phipps and Staff Sgt. Crystal Traub, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command; Maj. William Kerr, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center; and Capt. Micah Heard and 2nd Lt. Michael Bennett, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Training for the event required physical endurance and full body strength.

"I did 'Insanity' four days a week for strength and endurance," said Rabideau, the 951st Reserve Support Squadron director of operations and a first-time Tough Mudder. "I ran twice a week, four to five miles, to train for the running portion."

"I did CrossFit training three to four times a week," said Galvin, Air Force Reserve line recruiter and another first-timer. "It definitely helped!"

The distance of the course, mud, electric shocks and obstacles were made more difficult by the 20-degree weather.

"Getting in the ice water and having the muscles seize up was a challenge," said Kerr, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Recruiting Squadron personnelist.

"The plunge into the ice water was by far the most challenging for me," said Traub, a resource advisor for the Recruiting Squadron and rookie Tough Mudder. "When I went underwater and came back to the surface, my body went into 'fight or flight' mode. I had to remind myself to breathe at the same time making sure my 'swimming partner' made it to the other side as well. I've never had that feeling before in my life, and I've participated in quite a few high-risk adrenalin-rushing activities."

The course not only challenged them physically but mentally. After the swim through freezing water, the competitors still had nine more miles and 25 more obstacles. Teamwork became the key to success, not only in keeping all the competitors motivated when they couldn't feel their hands and feet, but also in helping them through the obstacles.

"Each team member struggled at one time or another. Without asking, there was someone there to wrap a space blanket around you when you couldn't move your fingers, give you that extra boost you needed over the wall or whatever you needed," said Traub. "There is no way this race is a 'one-man' race."

"Everyone helped and everyone pushed and pulled together," said Vazquez, the HQ AFRC/RS operations quality control program manager. "Some obstacles were more challenging for me than others, but with the encouragement and motivation from my team, I was able to get through the toughest parts and smile and hoot and holler with the rest of the team -- because we did it together"

"The team camaraderie and crossing the finish line together was the best part," said Rabideau. "There's no way any of us could have finished that race without working as a team. The motivation and inspiration that lasted throughout the entire four-hour course truly embodied the wingman concept."

Despite the bruises, soreness, aches and pains, everyone said they would definitely run the course again.