Staff Sgt. Dan Mach, 607th Air Control Squadron technician flight chief, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., jumps over a ditch Jan. 14 during the Tough Mudder at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. During this obstacle participants could either carry a block of wood by themselves or carry a log with another person. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Luke Air Force Base members begin the Tough Mudder Jan. 14 by running through gas at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. The course was 12.5 miles long with 29 obstacles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Lt. Col. Travis Rex, 21st Fighter Squadron director of operations, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., climbs up the ladder through the arctic enema obstacle Jan. 14 at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. The participants had to dive under cold muddy water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Senior Airman Stephanie Harp, 56th Security Forces Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., grabs onto the wall after coming up for air during the Tough Mudder arctic enema obstacle. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Tech. Sgt. Joey Crowell, Area Defense Counsel paralegal, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., climbs over logs during the Tough Mudder log jamming obstacle Jan. 14 at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Jessica Saldana, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., low crawls through the Tough Mudder dirty holes obstacle Jan. 14 at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Senior Airman Danielle Sturdivant, 56th Communications Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., crawls through the electric eel obstacle Jan. 14 during the Tough Mudder at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. The yellow wires contained electricity and would shock the person when they touched it. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Tech. Sgt. John Knighten, 412th Maintenance Squadron electronics section supervisor, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., left, and Staff Sgt. Patricia Radomski, 310th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., climb down a rope ladder in the Tough Mudder Jan. 14 at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Jessica Saldana, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., bear crawls through the rope ladder in the Tough Mudder Jan. 14 at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
Staff Sgt. Dan Mach, 607th Air Control Squadron technician flight chief, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., climbs the monkey bars Jan. 14 during the Tough Mudder at the Mesa Proving Grounds in Mesa, Ariz. This was the second to last obstacle the participants did during the course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka)
by Airman 1st Class David Owsianka
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
1/20/2012 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Getting muddy, going through electric shock and jumping into freezing water are just some of the things Luke Air Force Base members did to complete the Tough Mudder Saturday at Mesa Proving Grounds. The Tough Mudder is a 12-mile course consisting of 29 obstacles.
Tough Mudder is an organization that hosts endurance events that feature 20 to 30 challenging obstacles designed by British special forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie.
"It's going to be a huge challenge for my three fellow Airmen and me going through it," said Maj. Ronald Sloma, 21st Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations, prior to starting the Tough Mudder. "How well in tact we are at the end remains to be seen."
According to Sloma, his team didn't just participate to challenge themselves physically and mentally; they did it to support the Wounded Warrior Foundation and raised $600.
The participants started off the race by scaling a wall and then ran to the kiss of mud, an obstacle where participants do a low crawl underneath barb wire through mud.
Other obstacles included jumping 25 feet into freezing water, carrying wood, crawling through tunnels, going over and under log obstacles and climb over hay stacks to reach the final event called electroshock therapy.
Sloma considered the last event to be the trophy obstacle.
"That will be the final test for us to prove to ourselves that we could get through it as a team," he said.
A group of enlisted Airmen related the Tough Mudder to the obstacle course they completed in basic military training.
They agreed the Tough Mudder was what they'd hoped for.
"It was more extreme than the one in BMT and we got dirtier," said Senior Airman Stephanie Harp, 56th Security Forces Squadron.
Although there were a variety of favorite obstacles for the Luke members, they all said the Tough Mudder was amazing.
"Going through with a team was great, because we helped each other get through it," said Staff Sgt. Patricia Radomski, 310th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "It was definitely unforgettable and a challenge but worth it."
