The Easter Weekend Triple-R Challenge in Charlottesville brought together a host of hard-charging dual-professionals, including 15 of the JAGC’s newest members from the 216th JAOBC, along with a TJAGLCS Professor, several Graduate Course students, and Majors from Fort Belvoir, Fort Eustis, and OTJAG, all of whom successfully navigated the Order’s Triple-R Challenge.
Particularly for the motivated new OBC Judge Advocates, undertaking the formidable Triple-R Challenge was not out of character for a Saturday morning. Since their Fort Benning phase, a group of the students (1LT Robert Bradley, 1LT Justin Brickey, 1LT Brian Babb, and 1LT Henry Carras) had voluntarily been crushing tough workouts on weekends. It was thus no surprise that 1LT Carras, who became aware of the JAGWAR and Triple-R Challenge through Facebook posts during his 3L year, resolved to undertake the Triple-R Challenge upon commissioning, inviting other OBC class members to join him.
“A fair amount of my classmates like to find their physical ceiling,” said 1LT Carras. “After getting a lot of the people I train with regularly to participate, it was no challenge to get other people excited to see if they have what it takes to complete a Triple-R Challenge. The Order of the JAGWAR is perfect for us because it gives us a medium [through which] to coordinate with other fitness-minded Judge Advocates looking towards other physical challenges, like the GAFPB [German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge] or the Norwegian Road March.”
While the sweat didn’t start to officially flow until Saturday morning, the festivities actually kicked off the evening before with a rope climbing instructional class provided by the coaches at Solidarity CrossFit. Friday night’s instruction and practice proved that with a little coaching and a bit of repetition, everyone can tackle a rope climb. Each of the nearly two dozen participants left the instructional class having demonstrated the ability and confidence to successfully climb a 20-foot rope.
The following morning, Lieutenants, Captains, and Majors alike reassembled in the pre-dawn hours in PT uniforms to begin the three-event Triple-R Challenge. With wrist watches synched, participants stepped off, double time, to complete the 4-mile run down Barracks Road to TJAGLCS and back within 36 minutes.
Upon returning, participants donned boots and combat uniforms and the entire crew successfully climbed to glory (and safely returned to terra firma).
Then, with a full slate of green checkmarks on the first two events, participants loaded up their 35 pound rucks and pushed out for the 10-mile ruck march taking them past TJAGLCS, up around O-Hill (twice!), and back down through pristine downtown Charlottesville—all in under 2.5 hours.
With all three stages successfully completed within standard, CPTs Justin Hayes and Chris Scribner—JAGWAR Executive Committee Members—presented the coveted Order of the JAGWAR Challenge Coin to the participants.
Well done to these dual professionals for demonstrating their commitment to the “Soldier First, Lawyer Always” motto!
216 JAOBC participants:
Nic Bauer, Robert Bradley, Justin Brickey, Brian Babb, Henry Carras, Seth Corley, Tom DiSalvi, Emily Eslinger, Matthew Ferguson, Thomas Goers, Keith Kronenburg, Jason Marshall, Michael Markus, Mike Norton, and Sarah-Johanna Willcockson.
Throughout the Triple-R Challenge and afterwards at the celebratory Finisher’s Luncheon, the group of over 22 dual-professionals got to know each other, encouraged each other, and formed personal and professional bonds that will continue to foster the esprit-de-corps and encourage leadership and mentorship throughout our amazing JAGC formation.
It was an honor to be a part of the day! If you’re interested in taking on the Triple-R Challenge at your installation, reach out to the Order at jagwar@orderofthejagwar.com!