Introduction: Team Building Exercises: Bataan Death March...Are You Worthy? Team-Building Galore
The human spirit is profoundly resilient, and if you entertain that resiliency, the results are phenomenal. The human body, however, will challenge your every step.
In 1942, anywhere from 76,000 to 100,000 American and Filipino POWs were marched for days without food or water for fear of being executed by their Japanese captors across the Bataan peninsula. Thousands of them died.
Every year at the White Sands Missile Range outside Las Cruces, NM, a march is held in memory of those individuals so that we can honor their sacrifice for us to enjoy the liberties and freedoms we have today. The website is Bataan March
I am a Kansas Air National Guardsman. I participated on a team as the "Military Light" category, though you can go as a civilian.
This is an entry in the Burning Questions: team-building contest
Step 1: Team It Up
The spirit of Bataan is "No man(or woman) left behind." While many people will do the march on their own, having a team is what makes this event awesome. The march allows for teams of 5 people. I was invited to participate with the site defence team from my Air National Guard unit. I used to be on the site defense team so it was awesome to get to hang out with the guys.
Your team will help you train, keep you focused and most importantly support you to the finish.
Many of the original Bataan POWs marched alongside others and did not experience the support needed to keep themselves alive.
Step 2: Training for Death and Beating It
You will be marching a full marathon. Begin training well in advance of the actual event. Some training manuals are available for running road marathons but I have not found any official training regimes for this marathon. So this will be a simple training and preparation guide. I was invited to do the march at the last minute, so I wasn't able to do any specific event training though I had been working out for a 10K run I did the weekend prior. My intent is to give you what I am doing for next year.
Do your homework. Find out if someone you know has done something similar. Search the internet. Bataan March
Develop a training plan. I recommend a plan that starts out walking a few miles a few days a week and progresses to longer and more frequent walks. My training plan for next year will resemble the attached Excel spreadsheet.
Probably the most important aspect of training is conditioning your body.
Diet will greatly impact your success: Picking a diet
Stew Smith is a former Seal trainer who has had great success in training people. I love his training programs.
Train with someone. I saw so many people try to do this alone and fail. A training partner will push you when you think you're done.
Attachments
Step 3: Gear Up
Marching, hiking or running a long distance is murder on the body. First and foremost, condition your body to the event so that your first event isn't your last.
Your gear is very important.
BOOTS: If you're going to be marching, get your boots ready. I pretreat my boots with a conditioner to soften the leather. I also wear an insole that is made of a liquid gel so that it massages my foot as I walk. Make sure you are training in the boots you're going to be marching in.
SOCKS: I cannot stress enough about the importance of good socks. Cotton-blend socks will guarantee jacked-up feet. Cotton-blend socks can never keep your feet as dry as they need to be. Even the "wick-dry" cotton blend socks will trap moisture that a wool or synthetic blend sock will pull away. I know they're expensive but worth every penny. The socks below are about $16 a pair.
Clothes: I wear synthetic shorts and underwear. Under Armor or a knockoff work wonders. I've had both and I honestly don't find much difference.
Step 4: Experience the Reality of the Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
The day before the march, the whole site is thriving with energy. People are sharing stories of sacrifice, strife, hope and victory. Take time to reflect on why you are marching.
Freedom is NOT free. We do not have the liberties we enjoy today because they were given to us. We had to fight to protect them. Less than 1% of our nation serve in the military, but it is because of them that we can practice our faith freely, pursue our dreams and reach them.
Place in your heart the goal and keep your focus on something greater than yourself. This will drive you to the finish line.
Step 5: One Foot in Front of the Other...
The march is one of the most grueling things a person will experience.
Hydrate: You will need to drink plenty of fluids the day prior to and the day of the march. Water is essential but electrolytes are critical. You can over-hydrate and literally piss your life-saying electrolytes away.
Through the course of the march I consumed about 6 liters of water, 1 liter of gatorade, 4 oranges, 2 bananas and 3 energy bars.
Them dogs are barking! After 4 miles, our feet already needed some TLC. Changing your socks or at least letting your feet air out can mean the difference between a successful march and a day at the medic's tent.
Don't ignore the warning signs. If you start having a headache, hyhdrate. If you're hydrated, rest. You're probably overheated. Take some water and place it on your head. Try to find some shade.
Step 6: FINISH!!! Hold Your Head Up.
26.2 miles of desert can definitely wear on you, but you've made it. 11 hours and 45 minutes on the trail.
Don't get me wrong. This doesn't compare 1 iota to the 1942 Bataan Death March, but it takes more out of you than a regular marathon. Not to mention, you did it in boots.
Final Note:
The human spirit is profoundly resilient, and if you entertain that resiliency, the results are phenomenal. The human body, however, will challenge your every step.
Our team grew after we finished. Our respect for each other grew and when we deploy I can guarantee that this experience will strengthen our resolve all the more.
There are few things a team can do to strengthen itself than to be forged by the fire of physical strife.
19 Comments
9 years ago
I love how you said freedom isn't free because its true, and being a military child know some unfortunate kids my age that have lost their family members protecting our country.
13 years ago on Step 6
You guys make me proud !
Tsgt (Ret)
Reply 13 years ago on Step 6
Thanks for your support and your service!
15 years ago on Introduction
This is nice, but it seems like you are just trying to show off your accomplishment rather than instruct on team-building.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
I'm trying to understand if this is intended to be a constructive comment or a tongue-in-cheek comment. If I wanted to show off my accomplishment, I would've done an instructable on how I am a distinguished military member. It's a show and tell. There aren't many websites posting information on how to do the march, so I helped out. As for team-building, I guarantee that doing an event like this will strengthen your team. If you have something to offer for team-building, please post.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
For what it's worth, I really appreciated coming across your instructable recently. I'm a civilian, but I've been training to do this for a couple of months now and your points are definitely helpful. Reading over what you said, I now have some ideas on what to do as far as incorporating longer hikes and how to make sure I don't end up in the medic's tent (I don't think I would have realized the sock thing until it was too late). I may even try to put a team together just for the added support (that's a bit trickier though). So yeah, I think it's a great instructable, definitely for this particular march, but probably also for any other endurance type event. Great work, and thanks for sharing it with us!
15 years ago on Step 6
I was there and did it with you guys this year. I am going to do it again next year as well. Great Advice on how to survive that thing. I would just add make sure you trim your toenails and have a some room in your boots or the downhill portion will tear your toes up. Go Air Force CatNDhat Air Force (ret)
15 years ago on Introduction
I have known survivors of Bataan Death March and their families and can only say that which commemorates their ordeal and suffering and remembers their valor is an event worth participating in. My hat is off to those who have not forgotten. May no member of our armed forces ever have to suffer the fate those guys did. Most of those who made it home never really recovered physically or in their hearts. Thanks for the blog PKranger88.
15 years ago on Introduction
baTaan daY... _
15 years ago on Introduction
My grandfather survived the Deathmarch but just recently passed away, 2 years ago. He rarely spoke of it, as it was understandably pretty horrible. In any case, I always feel humbled when I look back on all that he's gone through and survive.
15 years ago on Introduction
We had close family friends (as to me as blood relatives) who were actually in the Bataan Death March. I've heard all the horror stories first hand. My Dad and his father (a retired American GI who was under Pershing's command), and my Mother's father (a Spaniard) fought as Guerrillas alongside Filipinos during WWII. I'm proud to have come from this lineage of brave men. I commend you and your friends for the time you take out of your lives to remember the the troops who lost their lives defending our freedoms. Freedom isn't free. I also thank you and your friends for your service to our country. Please pass my gratitude on to them. Signed, A Veteran 1986 -1996 (USAF 461X0/2W0X1 - AKA AMMO!)
15 years ago on Introduction
don't forget that they marched in the tropical HEAT....summers in the Philippines are sweltering! Those POWs were really lucky to have survived through their ordeal....only right that we honor them for the heroes that they are. Hats off to the veterans. Bataan Day here in the Philippines is commemorated every April 9.
15 years ago on Introduction
I live down here in Las Cruces and I walked it with my younger brothers Scout Troop last year. It is a fantastic experience ad a great event. I recommend it to anyone. I also recommend that if they aren't in good shape they train first.
15 years ago on Introduction
im in the air force cadets and think a team of any kind needs to be strong and participate in team building events like this, i learnt this form a five kilometre hike with packs, and then an 800 metre rise with 3 Kms marching, it was heavy stuff but it built more morale than i thought was possible. I hope to do this, or something similar soon. thanks for posting.
15 years ago on Introduction
Holy crappola, I'm gettin chills just reading about this! I'm a small, ameture WW2 history buff myself, and have read many books dealing with the Bataan march and other trials our guys went through during the Pacific Campaign (currently reading about the re-taking of Corregidor). I'm gonna have to seriously look into doing something like this soon!!! My hat's off to everyone who participates, and my utmost respect to those who survived the original!!!!!
15 years ago on Introduction
Is the airforce authorized to wear under armor? and gray socks? We cant wear under armor because the synthetics will melt to the skin in an explosion. And we would get hemmed up if we wore something other than Army green socks. Good job on the March.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
The Air Force uniform regulation, AFI 36-2903, In garrison, we are allowed to wear whatever material we want so long as it adheres to the AFI's requirements for color and logos. When I was deployed we weren't told that we couldn't wear synthetics. I wore synthetics, because of the heat. I was marching in an area where I didn't think an explosion was going to be an issue. Now, if I was in downtown Baghdad, I might choose a different shirt. Socks must be black if they are visible, but can be other colors if they are hidden from sight.
15 years ago on Introduction
The bataan death march (from what I've heard) was horrible! I can't imagine even recreating it, especially here in NM . I live in Santa fe and I can barely stand the heat just working outside, not to mention marching through the desert! Great job! (and much respect to all the survivors)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
The stories I heard from family members of the survivors and from what I've read are incredible. The original Bataan survivors are cut from a different cloth. Thanks for posting.