Competitors dive into action during Fuerzas Comando aquatic event

A Dominican Republic Special Operations team member dives into the water to begin the swimming portion of the Fuerzas Comando Aquatic event at Calderas Naval Base June 18. Along with the physical challenges, wind played a big role in the swimming portion, as competitors have to swim twice as hard.

SANTO DOMINGO - With the Fuerzas Comando 2010 exercise reaching its halfway mark, teams were looking to separate themselves from their competition during the Aquatic event June 18 and 19 at the Calderas Naval Base in the Dominican Republic.

The Colombian Special Operations team uses a synchronized swimming technique to get through the water faster at the Fuerzas Comando Aquatic event at Calderas Naval Base, Dominican Republic June 18. The Aquatic Event consisted of a Zodiac raft carry, rowing, ruck march, swimming and a pistol shoot.

During the event, the competitors ran their way through more than two-and-a-half miles of unforgiving sand and hot pavement while the water portion tested each team’s ability to swim across long stretches of cold water with heavy equipment. Individuals on each six-man team carry 30-pound ruck sacks, sling ropes, and a 9 mm pistol with one 12 round magazine. In order to control the event, groups start the competition in 30-mintue intervals. 

Paraguayan Special Operations team members carry an inflatable Zodiac boat during the Fuerzas Comando Aquatic event at Calderas Naval Base, Dominican Republic, June 18. The team carried the boat, which weighs more than 450 pounds, for 400 meters during the first portion of the event.

The aquatic course begins with each team transporting a 400-pound Zodiac inflatable boat. The group shoulders the craft and runs through 400 meters of wet, sandy beach in order to reach the harbor’s coastline. Once there, each team drops the raft into the water and unloads their backpacks to begin their next challenge—a strenuous 1,600 meter row across the inner harbor.

Once they make it to the other side of the marina, each group jumps out of the raft and quickly puts on their packs. The competitors only have moments to gather themselves as they begin a 2,900 meter foot movement over pavement and sand dunes. The end of the expedition leads them into a wooden pier with only cold water in front of them. 

The Dominican Republic Special Operations team begins the rowing portion of the Fuerzas Comando Aquatic event in the Dominican Republic June 18 and 19. Fuerzas Comando 2010, a week-long Special Operations skills competition, is a U.S. Southern Command sponsored event which helps promote interoperability, security and military partnerships throughout the Western hemisphere. 

For many, this portion of the challenge is the toughest as the competitors must now swim 500 meters with their ruck sacks, adding extra weight to the already fatigued troops. Some teams swim individually while others work as a group through synchronized swimming. No matter the event, for these warriors the ultimate goal is to finish as a team. 

“It’s very challenging because of the water and the wind,” said a member of the Belize Special Operations team. “It is important to stay together as a team all the way to the finish line.” 

With their boots full of water and their gear soaked, the competitors’ race 1,500 meters across tidal mud flats to the final portion of the Aquatic challenge. The teams then finish at the pistol range. Water runs out of the barrel of their weapons as they quickly load their magazines and take turns firing at different targets. 

Once the last team member fires his final round and clears his side arm, the team runs to the finish line to get their final time.

For most groups, the Aquatic event is one of the most difficult portions of Fuerzas Comando. The challenge is designed to push each team mentally and physically.

“All of the events are demanding but the Aquatic event is toughest of the competition,” said a Jamaican team member. 

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