Posted on 05/09/2015 7:08:14 AM PDT by iowamark
The military is presently under a national spotlight regarding women in combat, with branches testing how women can physically handle grueling physical standards associated with combat arms training. A video going viral adds some interesting context to that. The video shows a U.S. Army captain, who is a woman, completing a 12-mile ruck march on a course that is open to women and outside of the discussion on women in combat arms — the Expert Field Medical Badge course. The competitive decoration is open to soldiers in the medical field and is one of the toughest decorations to earn.
In the video, Capt. Sarah Cudd grinds out the final steps of a 12-mile ruck march that had to be completed in three hours as part of the qualifications for the course. It’s one of the most grueling courses in the Army; a 2013 Army report describes the success rate as just 17%. Cudd, an Army veterinarian, joins those ranks in an extremely motivating fashion.
The video was posted to Facebook April 28, by Capt. Lloyd Mason, whose Facebook page describes him as the program manager for the Expert Field Medical Badge course at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The video has been shared more than 22,000 times since.
It’s fiercely motivating — Cudd can be seen gritting it out just a few dozen feet from the finish line. She crumples to the ground from exhaustion twice, and is slow to rise each time. The determination, however, is palpable, as is the energy and support from the onlooking soldiers who surround her. The crowd’s cheers grow as Cudd gets nearer to the finish line. When she finally crosses it, she’s surrounded by supportive soldiers; the cheers are deafening, and she immediately collapses. The time on the clock reads 2 hours, 46 minutes, and 53 seconds. She had three hours.
The U.S. Army’s Public Health Command shared the video to Facebook days later, saying Cudd “shows us all what ‘never quitting’ looks like.”
The Expert Field Medical Badge course also involves tasks surrounding tactical combat care, medical and casualty evacuation, warrior skills, and communication; as well as a physical fitness test; a land navigation course; weapons qualifications; and a comprehensive written test.
Task & Purpose reached out to a former Army combat medic, Samuel Innocent, who served with the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York. He described the course as, “The second-hardest badge in the Army to get outside of the Infantry Expert Badge.”
Wow, you have it bad.
You need to lay off this getting on threads purely to make personal attacks, quit the trolling, and quit carrying personal grudges from thread to thread.
I don’t have it bad at all. I have it great.
I simply want you to stop bullying innocent posters. This last time around was simply uncalled for. You don’t seem to respect anyone’s opinion. It is OK for someone to think differently than you. Respecting them for it is actually a sign of strength.
Instead you use your pseudo debating skills to distort and distract—and then you “demand” answers to YOUR questions without giving any of yours.
Tell me, is there a thread anywhere on FR where you actually made a constructive criticism on any topic? Or is it your job to simply tell everyone else what they are doing wrong.
I have to say that you are truly demonstrating the worst of trolling.
You have zero to say about the thread topic, but I think we can guess where you would be on it if you did comment.
Are you another non-vet that supports the left’s agenda for the military?
You see, there you go again. Demanding an answer without adding to the discussion.
How about you answer a question: Why were you distorting and dissecting what the fireman had to say? His story was appropriate to the thread—yet you picked him apart on exceptionally minor points in his story. It simply added nothing, except to force him to get mad a go away.
I am on this thread to call you out on the bullying. How do you feel about bullying?
There: I asked you two questions. Can you manage to answer either?
And my take on this story? People misunderstand the whole reason for forced marches—they are designed to bolster the confidence of the participants. If you can finish one of them and be ready to fight—then a real world situation would not scare you. If this is what she needed for a badge, I guess its cool. Its like most “tests”—the true nature is not discussed. And it trains you on nothing.
Oh, I know... Ansell lives for conflict.
At our display honoring Vietnam Vets at the Western Washington State Fair last September, we had to reign in our good friend and co-conspirator on numerous occasions. Mike joined the army when he was 18, went to Vietnam a couple times and wasn't forced to retire from the reserves until he turned 60. We had thousands of visitors every day and some fool like Ansell seemed to show up just about every day and confront Mike about something.
We were able to intervene most of the time to keep things civilized, but the tirades Mike would have in private afterward were some of the funniest dialogs that I have ever heard. I would love to repeat what he said, but it might hurt the feelings of others in addition to Ansell and that is not something that I want.
Without adding to the discussion?
You came to troll, you have expressed zero interest in the discussion and merely want to whine and emote how hurt your feelings are.
Odd that you won’t go back to any threads where you disagreed with me on a topic to resume an actual discussion, even this thread topic doesn’t interest you.
Have you been in the military lieutenant? Your home page tries to give the impression that you have, have we differed on women in the military before?
And the answers to either of the questions I asked?
As a fellow vet, I think that Mike and I would get along fine, did your female friends want to beat him up like they did the other Vietnam vet?
Have you been in the military lieutenant? Your home page tries to give the impression that you have, have we differed on women in the military before?
Ansel12, Why don't you go back and read the post you are referring to? Did I ever say the guy the actual Vietnam Vet women wanted to beat up was a Vietnam Vet himself? It is hard for me to imagine that our friend Mike would have anything to do with you unless you are a lot different in real life than your nasty posts make you seem. Mike who has been a good friend for nearly 30 years may be a little rough around the edges, but he is still a gentleman. You are not.
You haven’t answered any of my questions. We are talking about YOU tonight. Not me.
Why are you trying to bully me now? I am not discussing my past as it is not relevant to our discussion. We are discussing how you do nothing but come on here day after day and pick fights with people. You bully them into leaving and not coming back.
So, please answer the questions I posed: Where have you contributed to a discussion without bullying. And, are you aware that you are perceived by many on Free Republic to be the worst of the cabal that have tried to take over the forums and not allow an intelligent discussion.
When you answer those questions we will parse my home page. Which, is pretty clear. And quite frankly all I choose to discuss with strangers.
"They said they wanted to beat the crap out of him and judging by their fitness level compared to his... I was hoping that they would not be able to find him. Our goal was to honor Vietnam Vets not get them beat up."
You seem to have little respect for vets who aren't a part of your group.
"A fat, disheveled, half drunk looking guy started objecting loudly to that part of the display and saying that other than a few nurses there were “NO WOMEN EVER” who were sent to Vietnam. Then he went into a bitter tirade about his objections to women in the military. Ansel, you weren't by any chance visiting Washington State last September? LOL!
This is a discussion about the military lieutenant, and you have an agenda, and you have not served in the military.
I found out what your problem is, I thought you seemed like one of the guys who is constantly arguing with the conservatives here, and I was curious what the last thread was that I posted to you on, and it turns out that it was ALSO about females and the military.
I also found out that you posted about me without pinging me, you even through in some cussing.
To: Travis McGee
It is truly a sad day when even the famous Travis responds to a post, injecting himself into a thread without reading the thread.
I never said any of the shit you think I said. I merely pointed out that while the other idiot, Ansel was saying that standards would be lowered, that in no article here or anywhere else that I could find did they say anything but the opposite.
For someone with your skill in writing, you might want to brush up on your reading comprehension. Suggesting for one second that I support queers mauling nag each other like that or women in special forces meeting lower standards is a blatant lie. I hope you take a second to actually read the thread between Ahole and I, and you will see what I was writing about.
Free republic has become a nest of vipers. I always figured you for one of the good guys, but I guess you are turning into a crazy old man who believes all the stuff you write.
It is a sad day. I thought you were better than these other idiots.
72 posted on 5/4/2015, 9:07:34 PM by Vermont Lt
Ansel, I have no idea if the guy was even a Vet... I do apologize that my original post was written poorly and gave you an opportunity to twist my words. The man seemed only to be the real life version of your internet persona. We treated him with respect as we did every other person who viewed our display. I think that Mike chased him off after he started poking the Colonel’s ribbons with his sticky looking fingers.
You want to know what “twisting words” is, when you tell us a story and then deny that you said what you said, and instead you lash out as pretending that you didn’t say it until the quote is printed in bold, and then instead of merely apologizing, you attack again with, “and gave you an opportunity to twist my words.”
This new take on your story doesn’t sound very credible, now you have Mike being there and chasing him off, which doesn’t sound very respectful, like you now claim, didn’t Mike ask him any questions about his military service?
Ansell, you are incorrigible and that is just the way that it is. You are a master at using Alynski tactics... to me that makes you not credible? As I have pointed out in numerous discussions with you over the years... there is very little difference in our politics and view of the world. You are always looking for a fight and I think that you are very damaging to the credibility of Free Republic. If you truly are a conservative then you should be ashamed of yourself for causing so many problems.
You are just rambling now.
Ansell please read the following. I am not rambling. You started this discussion with me by calling me a liar just as you have done to so many others on Free Republic for years now. Then after you aggravate someone... you try to get them in trouble with the moderators if they tangle with you on another thread.
You don’t care if they have any real ideological differences with you... you just like to cause problems for others. It is just what you do. If your behavior here is any indicator, you have most likely alienated nearly everyone who has ever tried to get close to you. It probably feels like the best part of your life is long gone.
I am praying right now that you will accept Christ in your heart and find a church where you can get some type of support. You need a new beginning. You have ignored my pleas previously... but get some help. I love you brother.
Still rambling, even doing the holier than thou mockery of using Christ in your insults.
Give up on the whining and personal stuff, and please quit mocking Christ in an effort to insult someone on the internet.
The discussion is over. If you want to call yourself the winner go ahead. I don’t care about it any more. I wish you only the best.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel. Proverbs 12:15
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