Camp Pendleton Contest Makes 'Survivor' Seem Like Stroll in Park

Wearing 50-pound packs and clutching rifles, teams of Reconnaissance Marines took to the Pacific Ocean this weekend for a grueling 2,000-meter open water swim.

After emerging from the choppy Pacific, and with the clock ticking, the men raced toward the San Onofre ridgeline for a 12-mile hike through rough terrain, finally ending at Camp Horno.

It was all part of the 3rd annual Marine Recon Challenge, held Saturday at Camp Pendleton. Recon Marines are a small, elite group -- about 1,400 strong -- known for such missions as rescuing hostages from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden recently without suffering a casualty.

Saturday's competition began early. At 3 a.m., recon instructors set up the course, and by 4 a.m. two-man teams from the Marine reconnaissance community set out on the first leg of the 25-mile endurance competition.

Along the way, they engaged targets and displayed feats of physical strength while pitted against trying terrain in the marathon-length obstacle course.

Not every Marine made it. During the post-ocean hike, one man gave way to heat exhaustion, forcing his partner to finish the majority of the challenge alone.

Awaiting the Marines at Camp Horno was an obstacle course rigged with challenging high walls and ropes, which forced the two-man teams to climb and throw their bodies over and through whatever stood in their way, finishing off with a rope climb.

After the obstacle course, the teams proved their marksmanship skills by shooting targets with M4 rifles and M9 pistols at unknown distances.  

“Amazing, we did the best ever,” an enthusiastic Sgt. Duncan Shuler yelled to his partner after he finished shooting at the range.  

“We made it rain,” Sgt. Lucas Chaffins playfully replied as they quickly put on their 50-pound packs and headed toward the final stage of the challenge.

As the men turned for home, there was an unexpected surprise waiting. 

“We like to throw a curveball in there,” Recon instructor Padilla said.  

At last year’s Recon Challenge, the competitors had to carry a water jug 50 yards across the finish line; they were expecting the same thing this year. However, instead of water jugs, 50-pound tires stood in their way.  The Marines had to flip the tires end over end for 100 yards, until finally being allowed to sprint toward the finish line.

“Our feet are sore,” said Gunnery Sgt. Marzi. “But that’s to be expected.  What surprised both of us were the leg cramps we suffered getting out of the surf zone. This is the hardest thing physically I’ve ever done.”

“It shows how far a person is willing to go if they want it bad enough,” said Staff Sgt. James Duvall, a recon instructor who completed the challenge himself last year.

And the winners were:

1st Place: 9:24:08
Gunnery Sgt. Collin Barry, Recon Training Company
Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Cullen, Recon Training Company

2nd Place: 9:24:23
Staff Sgt. Kirby Fanus, 4th Recon Bn
Staff Sgt. Luke Fuchs, 4th Recon Bn

3rd Place: 10:04:29
Sgt. Duncan Shuler, 1st Force Recon Company
Sgt. Lucas Chaffins, 1st Force Recon Company