Honoring the brave and selfless

Participant from the University of Washington Navy ROTC participates in a 4-man row. The team combined needed to row for 10,000 meters while other members of the team worked the stationary bike for 500 calories. May 19, 2019. (Image, Brandon Gailey … — Participant from the University of Washington Navy ROTC participates in a 4-man row. The team combined needed to row for 10,000 meters while other members of the team worked the stationary bike for 500 calories. May 19, 2019. (Image, Brandon Gailey / Klamath Falls News)

UPDATE & Correction: US Air Force Academy has won the 2019 Iron Owl Challenge and has won the contest for the past 5 years. Making them 6 year champs.

Five teams from the US Naval Academy, US Airforce Academy, University of Washington Navy ROTC, Oregon State University Navy ROTC, and Oregon Tech, came together this weekend for both physical and mental challenges inspired by military special ops training situations at the 9th annual Iron Owl Challenge.

“Ultimately what we are trying to instill in these guys, is to honor the fallen warrior,” explained AJ Davila, Iron Owl Event Coordinator. “We are trying to give them a better understanding of what it takes to serve your country and honor the sacrifices that have been given for this country at the same time.”

The 3-day challenge competition challenges participants with military-based special operations disciplines form all branches. The Iron Owl challenged not only physical abilities but mental capacities as well. Most importantly it challenges participants abilities as a team player.

“The camaraderie that is made from this event is incredible,” says Davila. “When they are done, its like they are all one…one team. Throughout the competition it really matters to them. They experience and go through so much together, that by the end, the competition component really does not matter and they become one.”

Iron Owl Event Coordinator, AJ Davila briefs the participants on the CrossFit portion of the competition. May 17, 2019 (Image, Brandon Gailey / Klamath Falls News)

Events began Friday morning with a relay through Klamath Falls followed by opening ceremonies at Oregon Tech and a Marine Corp PFT. Friday’s events continued at the Ella Redkey Pool with buddy drags, and swimming full gear. Events wrapped at CrossFit Hogback where a CrossFit aspect of the challenge was issued as well as a scholastic aptitude test.

Events continued overnight near Topsy Reservoir with night land navigation and continued through out the day with an Army PFT, load and distance mission, boat challenge, day land navigation and other challenging events through midnight.

Sunday the participants earned a few hours rest before attacking a Marine Corp PFT and challenges at the Klamath Sports Park shooting range.

“There are guys I have stayed in contact from the very first one [Iron Owl Challenge],” says Davila. “We get to talk to them see how their careers are going and what they have been doing. Of the ones that I know, between 30-40% of the teams that come through and participated in the Iron Owl Challenge have gone on to a Special Ops career,” says Davila.

This is the first year for Oregon Tech to have a team in the Iron Owl. Props goes to the US Air Force Academy has won the Iron Owl Challenge 5 years running.