1 00:00:00,392 --> 00:00:03,559 ^(inspirational music) 2 00:00:17,739 --> 00:00:21,152 ^- So Alaska really was chosen because it offered us a 3 00:00:21,152 --> 00:00:24,394 ^physically challenging area to train in 4 00:00:24,394 --> 00:00:27,055 and allowed for the marines to not be prepared, 5 00:00:27,055 --> 00:00:31,049 which really allowed for that squad leader to take over 6 00:00:31,049 --> 00:00:32,452 when things were tough. 7 00:00:32,452 --> 00:00:34,698 All the way from the land navigation 8 00:00:34,698 --> 00:00:37,365 and patrolling exercises through 9 00:00:37,499 --> 00:00:40,134 the mountaineering techniques that were required throughout 10 00:00:40,134 --> 00:00:42,467 four plus days of operation. 11 00:00:43,215 --> 00:00:46,382 (inspirational music) 12 00:01:08,170 --> 00:01:09,663 Really what we were able to do, 13 00:01:09,663 --> 00:01:13,131 especially when you are talking about the reserve marines, 14 00:01:13,131 --> 00:01:15,508 is we're able to push them a lot harder 15 00:01:15,508 --> 00:01:17,519 than they have been in the past and that was due 16 00:01:17,519 --> 00:01:20,578 to us having a large enough staff that allowed 17 00:01:20,578 --> 00:01:24,495 to be continuous throughout the four plus days. 18 00:01:25,550 --> 00:01:28,243 This allowed for them to be pushed completely beyond 19 00:01:28,243 --> 00:01:31,312 most of their limits that they've had up to this point. 20 00:01:31,312 --> 00:01:32,599 Some of the marines haven't deployed, 21 00:01:32,599 --> 00:01:35,035 have not been in a combat situation 22 00:01:35,035 --> 00:01:37,454 so we were able to simulate that through keeping 23 00:01:37,454 --> 00:01:39,915 them up for nearly the entire one hundred 24 00:01:39,915 --> 00:01:42,288 hours while pushing them physically, 25 00:01:42,288 --> 00:01:45,033 demanding a whole lot out of them mentally 26 00:01:45,033 --> 00:01:47,141 as a team with that squad leader 27 00:01:47,141 --> 00:01:50,241 could either rise or he could fail to succeed 28 00:01:50,241 --> 00:01:53,074 as being the Super Squad for 2017. 29 00:01:53,785 --> 00:01:56,952 (inspirational music) 30 00:02:15,967 --> 00:02:17,981 ^- The most important part was definitely teamwork and coming 31 00:02:17,981 --> 00:02:19,695 ^together and picking each other up 32 00:02:19,695 --> 00:02:22,430 ^when you have nothing left in the gas tank. 33 00:02:22,430 --> 00:02:25,222 And really, finishing with an end product. 34 00:02:25,222 --> 00:02:28,389 (inspirational music) 35 00:02:28,714 --> 00:02:30,769 I learned my proficiencies as a squad leader 36 00:02:30,769 --> 00:02:32,620 and they also point out some deficiencies, 37 00:02:32,620 --> 00:02:34,826 which is big for me cause it's gonna 38 00:02:34,826 --> 00:02:36,837 make me a better squad leader and if 39 00:02:36,837 --> 00:02:38,691 we ever do get a chance to deploy, 40 00:02:38,691 --> 00:02:40,886 I can correct those deficiencies 41 00:02:40,886 --> 00:02:43,630 and hopefully bring everybody home. 42 00:02:43,630 --> 00:02:46,797 (inspirational music) 43 00:02:49,199 --> 00:02:50,618 ^- It is tough to keep going, 44 00:02:50,618 --> 00:02:53,651 ^especially when you haven't ate, you don't have water. 45 00:02:53,651 --> 00:02:56,934 ^It's really cold but you have to but you have to. 46 00:02:56,934 --> 00:02:59,701 The mission has priority and you have to keep pushing. 47 00:02:59,701 --> 00:03:01,953 So a lot of these guys were walking with their heads low 48 00:03:01,953 --> 00:03:04,690 so you as a team leader, APO, squad leader, you need 49 00:03:04,690 --> 00:03:06,543 to take a step back from the mission 50 00:03:06,543 --> 00:03:07,791 and make sure your guys are good. 51 00:03:07,791 --> 00:03:09,972 The human body is capable of so much more 52 00:03:09,972 --> 00:03:11,398 that even if you're tired, you haven't slept 53 00:03:11,398 --> 00:03:15,425 for the past 72 hours, if there's a will there's a way. 54 00:03:15,425 --> 00:03:18,592 (inspirational music) 55 00:03:31,230 --> 00:03:34,322 - A lot of them have never been in that situation 56 00:03:34,322 --> 00:03:36,678 to where they relied on each other. 57 00:03:36,678 --> 00:03:40,407 That team leader, the squad leaders, all the way down 58 00:03:40,407 --> 00:03:43,211 to the individual marine, they really had to 59 00:03:43,211 --> 00:03:45,743 not only know each other's capabilities, 60 00:03:45,743 --> 00:03:47,908 but also know their limitations. 61 00:03:47,908 --> 00:03:50,734 Its really allowed them to pace themselves and understand 62 00:03:50,734 --> 00:03:53,548 that this gonna be a long, arduous event 63 00:03:53,548 --> 00:03:56,048 and that really created a bond 64 00:03:56,939 --> 00:03:58,430 amongst the marines 65 00:03:58,430 --> 00:04:02,597 that I saw a huge difference from day one to day five. 66 00:04:03,734 --> 00:04:05,073 This is the closest thing 67 00:04:05,073 --> 00:04:06,656 to an Olympic event 68 00:04:07,974 --> 00:04:09,979 for the marine corp at this moment. 69 00:04:09,979 --> 00:04:13,146 (inspirational music) 70 00:04:35,215 --> 00:04:37,744 - I would encourage all marines 71 00:04:37,744 --> 00:04:40,343 ^to at least attempt super squad. 72 00:04:40,343 --> 00:04:44,093 ^It is the best of each company that competes. 73 00:04:44,214 --> 00:04:46,448 And so each marine will need to push themselves 74 00:04:46,448 --> 00:04:48,178 to their limits, to find their limits 75 00:04:48,178 --> 00:04:50,186 and be able to push past them. 76 00:04:50,186 --> 00:04:52,769 But it's well worth the effort. 77 00:04:52,903 --> 00:04:55,586 It's really enforced me wanting to continue 78 00:04:55,586 --> 00:04:58,836 to lead my marines by being an example. 79 00:04:59,504 --> 00:05:01,754 (gun fire)