Rucking Excellence in the Mountains --a TenPeat!

Honor Through Action and Victory in a Competition with a Cause!! Annually, the Appalachian State ROTC Cadets travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to take part in the Mountain Man Memorial March. The event honors Gold Star families, the sacrifices they have endured, and the ultimate sacrifice our service members have made. The Mountain Man Memorial March also serves as a way for Cadets to show what they are made of and put forth their best during the half or full-marathon ruck march-- either as a five-member team or as individuals. Each participant in the Full and Half event competes in military boots and pants and carries a 35-pound rucksack. There is also the opportunity for 10K, half-marathon, and marathon runners. This year, the event hosted over 700 competitors and several military and ROTC teams. Appalachian State brought four teams total (three men's teams and one women's team) and many individual racers. Over 35 App ROTC members attended as competitors or support personnel helping the teams during the race. An App State male full marathon team has taken home first place for the past 10 years that the event has been conducted in person! App State not only took first place in the male full marathon event, but also third—the same results as last year.

(Below) First Place Team Members were Jacob Church, Jeffery Nisbett, Hunter Brown, Aiden Lanier, and Evan Meyer.

(Below) Third Place Team members were: Seth Perkins, Tim Johnson, Jake Cannon, Mike Navejas, and Eddie Graham

(Below) Lily Christensen placed 2nd and Abby Metcalf 3rd in the Female Individual Half Marathon Ruck.

The teams march in Honor of the Program’s Fallen, including Cadet Hasbrouck, an Appalachian State ROTC Cadet who passed away during the Mountain Man Memorial March on April 21st, 2012. Cadet Hasbrouck's mother, Patricia Hasbrouck, has made an appearance each year to support App State in her son's remembrance. The Cadets were able to meet with Ms. Hasbrouck before and after the race.

The Female Team posing and in action (Below)