Force Recon Marines hike 237 miles

[SJ-AK]

Not sure what pace these guys kept, but I have done a fair number of "forced marches" with Marine Infantry units, and it is a different kind of hard on the feet compared to regular hiking in the mountains.

The couple of battalion commanders we had liked to keep a 3 mile per 50 minutes pace with 10 minute rest/water stops before taking off again. That felt fine at first, but depending upon the load a guy was carrying and how long his legs were and level of fitness, we would have guys starting to "fall out" within 6-9 miles for sure. We started our battalion workup at 3 miles and slowly increased throughout the year to finish with a 25 mile forced march. The pace was constant and on pavement for 50 minutes at a time and feet would get hot and moist whether a guy was wearing black Hi-tec hiking boots, jungle boots, or Danner's. I never get blisters while backpacking, but would get hot spots or blisters on these forced marches if I didn't take the time and effort to put on dry socks every 6 miles or so regardless of how tired I was.

For our forced marches in and around the base, we would start at 2AM to avoid some of the heat and humidity. It was easy to carry extra dry socks for our hikes close to home, but I am guesssing that these guys above didn't have that luxury of extra dry socks.

Brings back so many good memories!

 

[HellsCanyon]

Not sure what pace these guys kept, but I have done a fair number of "forced marches" with Marine Infantry units, and it is a different kind of hard on the feet compared to regular hiking in the mountains.

The couple of battalion commanders we had liked to keep a 3 mile per 50 minutes pace with 10 minute rest/water stops before taking off again. That felt fine at first, but depending upon the load a guy was carrying and how long his legs were and level of fitness, we would have guys starting to "fall out" within 6-9 miles for sure. We started our battalion workup at 3 miles and slowly increased throughout the year to finish with a 25 mile forced march. The pace was constant and on pavement for 50 minutes at a time and feet would get hot and moist whether a guy was wearing black Hi-tec hiking boots, jungle boots, or Danner's. I never get blisters while backpacking, but would get hot spots or blisters on these forced marches if I didn't take the time and effort to put on dry socks every 6 miles or so regardless of how tired I was.

For our forced marches in and around the base, we would start at 2AM to avoid some of the heat and humidity. It was easy to carry extra dry socks for our hikes close to home, but I am guesssing that these guys above didn't have that luxury of extra dry socks.

Now that you mention it, that makes a lot more sense. I've done a number of "pack tests" while working for the USFS. 45 lbs of gear and 3 miles under 45 minutes, though we usually walked it much faster than that. That fast walking pace on gravel or pavement SUCKED ass and is not a normal natural pace for most people. Certainly much different than how I hike when I'm hunting and packing.

Mike

 

[7mag.]

Now that you mention it, that makes a lot more sense. I've done a number of "pack tests" while working for the USFS. 45 lbs of gear and 3 miles under 45 minutes, though we usually walked it much faster than that. That fast walking pace on gravel or pavement SUCKED ass and is not a normal natural pace for most people. Certainly much different than how I hike when I'm hunting and packing.

Mike

I have my annual "Pack test", next week. I hate that test, nobody hikes that fast. At least my new Nomad will make the 45 lbs nicer to carry.

 

[jcodyc40]

its a joke, look up earl dibbles jr

Checked it out, he's pretty funny!

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Mike 7's account sounds like mine. I was in 92-96 and my buddy in the grunts went on to 2nd Force. His brother is my hunting partner as we both prefer bows. The longest hump I ever did was 32 miles in about 8 hours. These humps are no joke. Today's warriors are just as hard, but less of them. The selection processes for the elite is no less shitty. Of all of the books I have read of WW2 through Vietnam, today's selection is harder by far. I did the indoc for Force but after deployment I was enjoying my time in the land of the big PX instead of PTing. Needless to say I was ill-prepared. Fraudulently enlisting with flat feet increased my discomfort level in the landing gear department on a daily basis. The new gear is way better and lighter but they just give you more shit to carry. S/F