New Mexico Minuteman - Spring 2011 - Keep Trees

Winter TAG Challenge 2011
By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon, 150th Visual Information Center
The TAG Challenge, held Jan. 9, 2011, at Kirtland Air Force
Base, was a battle between the Air National Guard as defending
champs and the Army National Guard who were prepared to
dominate the competition.
Each team consisted of fi ve competitors and had to have at
least one female.
The fi rst event of the competition was completing the Army
Physical Fitness Test, which consists of two-minute push-ups,
two-minute sit-ups, and a two-mile run. Tech. Sgt. Nate Bartnick,
from the Air National Guard, pushed out the most push-ups –
113; Pfc. Gary Lackey, from the 717th, did 94 sit-ups, the most
completed; and 1st Lt. Eric Brown, also from the 717th, completed
the two-mile run in an impressive time of 11minutes and
39 seconds.
Next, each competitor had to complete a three-mile ruck
march. The ruck sacks had to meet a minimum weight of 35
pounds, making this part of the competition a bit more challenging.
This was a team-graded event, making each team
accountable for every member. If one member was struggling,
the other team members were responsible for helping their
10 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2011
teammate across the fi nish line. With a time of 32 minutes and
59 seconds, team B Company 1/200th Infantry Battalion took
honors for the event.
Once this event was completed, they made their way back
to the track where the pull-up competition began. Each member
had to do as many pull-ups as they could. Spc. Troy Wells, with