What an 'Amazing Race' it was

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 615th Contingency Response Wing put on an event unlike any other seen at Travis July 19 and 20. The event not only combined physical skill and mental toughness, but also incorporated teamwork, problem solving and fun all in the spirit of friendly competition. The "1st 615th CRW Amazing Race" lived up to the CRW's expectations and more.

The 615th's Amazing Race is based off a hit reality show with the same name on CBS. It consists of 10 two-person teams racing around the world for $1 million. During the race, teams are given clues to their next destination. However, along the way teams are met with various challenges both physical and mental. Teams are often confronted with apparently unbeatable obstacles that they must overcome.

"It turned out to be the perfect event," said Lt. Col. John Hamuka. "The planning team for the race took the known qualities of CRW personnel; ingenuity, creativity and tenacity and integrated them into an event that would not only be fun, but also address the core requirements of any successful organization, communication, teamwork and personal relationships."

The event took place over a day and a half-period and was open to all members of the CRW. Events were structured as to not give undue advantage to any team no matter what their physical condition may be. "Some tasks focused on expeditionary type skills, such as M16 assembly and function checks, tent building, and litter patient carrying," said Colonel Hamuka. "Others stressed communication, problem solving and inter-personal relationships." Let there be no mistake there were physical aspects to the race.

By the end of the race teams biked, walked or ran over 30 miles during the heat of the California summer.

The race began July 19 at 8 a.m. with 14 3-person teams (42 total) from 5 organizations that lasted more than 27 hours in temperatures exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

The race took teams to numerous locations on the first day to participate in events such as paintball target shooting, searching for clues in a warehouse, a walking tour of the base, bowling, shopping in the commissary, stacking pallets of fertilizer in the BX, unscrambling a Dewey decimal code at the base library and counting 933 jelly beans at the base pool.

Teams completed tasks such as these at each stop, which directed them to the next stop. Along the way teams could solicit help not only from their teammates but also the base population.

Day two found teams eager to start despite the 6:30 a.m. wake-up. They continued their pursuit for the finish by carrying a teammate 100 yards.

After a day of physical activities, the teams were given an opportunity to increase their knowledge Air Force history and heritage. They had a choice between taking a test of AF history or matching obscure photos of aircraft parts with aircraft on display at the Travis Museum.

Once their physical stamina and knowledge was tested it was time to evaluate their luck. Teams were soon confronted with over 500 cans in the Airmen and Family Support Center parking lot. Each team had one can that had their number on it. But if that wasn't hard enough some cans had time delays and player swaps.

The final event between them and the finish line was a test on their knowledge of their boss. Each team was given a series of questions about the CRW colonels. As teams arrived and pressure increased many teams solicited the aid of CRW spectators. Some went to the phone to call their commanders secretary. One team called their commander at his home while he was on leave.

After 27 hours and 23 minutes, completing 22 events the results were in. Congratulations to the 1st 615th CRW Amazing Race Winners!