25
I emerged breathlessly from the cold water of Lake Mead and looked behind me. Mark was just a few yards from shore, followed closely by a large group of swimmers.
Captain Smith held up a stopwatch. “Well done Colonel. Fifty-six minutes and thirty-three seconds.”
I was pleased. Mark and I were both strong swimmers, but to finish first and second sent a message to the others that we were just as fit as they were. It’s always important to gain the respect of the people you are leading which is why we were participating in all the challenges.
The nine teams had been split into three groups. While one group completed the obstacle course the other two performed either the weapons evaluation or the gruelling swim. They would rotate during the day, completing all three tasks by seventeen hu
