AO: WoodstockRucks

When: 05/01/2021

PAX:

Number of Pax: 14

Pax Names: 8-Bit, Bonilla, Brady Bunch, Butterfly, Careless Whisper, Dropbox, Duggar, E-tool, Gambler, Geek Squad, Gut Check, Hass, Mouth-2-Mouth, Short Circuit,

Number of FNGS: 0

FNG Names:

QIC: Dropbox


As this was my F3 1st Anniversary AQ, I wanted to bring something near and dear to my heart to a BD, my prior service and sandbags. I chose the Fall of Baghdad WOD to commemorate my brothers and sisters who were on ground during April 2003.

I arrived at the AO a little early to get things ready. Gut Check was the only one there before me to do a pre-run. He had a happy disposition about him when I pulled up. That soon changed when I offloaded a 100# and a 120# sandbag. I also informed him that more were on the way and little did he know what was in store. I figured why only ruck the mile or so distance before starting the 34 rounds, lets add some fun. I brought some extra good livin for the buy in and buy out portion. As the rest of the PAX showed up seeing what was in store for them, I knew it was going to be memorable.

As time started, we gathered the sandbags and headed on our walk. We made our way from the Amphitheater up to downtown and went past canyons to Fowler street. From there we we back into the neighborhood to tackle some hills and circle back to the amphitheater. Once we arrived back to the AO we dropped the sandbags and everyone was relieved. I introduced the workout we would be performing.

The Fall of Baghdad WOD consists of the following:

  • buy in 2000m (~1.25 Mile) Ruck
  • 34 Rounds
    • 1 Squat with Ruck
    • 3 Ruck Push Ups
    • 5 Mountain Climbers
  • Buy out 2000m (~1.25 Mile) Ruck

Ruck Weight: 30#
Sandbag: 2 x 100# and a 120#

We got our spots and got to work. Those that finished earlier than others helped pick up the six. Once everyone had completed the WOD, we went back to grab the sandbags to finish the buy out. 8-bit and E-tool decided to initially carry the 100# sandbags themselves and we traded off as needed and worked as a team throughout the buy out portion. Everyone was in good spirits once we got back to the AO and dropped the sandbags for the final time. Since we had a few extra minutes, we tackled the stairs at the Amphitheater. We finished up with the COT and then coffeteria.

Here is the significance of the workout according to the March GORUCK Tribe email:
34 Rounds = 34 Killed in Action
1 Sandbag Cluster = USMC 1st Marine Division
3 Ruck Push Ups = US Army 3rd Infantry Division
5 Mountain Climbers = 5 Coalition of Joint Forces and Aircraft involved in the battle
2000m Ruck = infil and exfil distance represents the year and estimated Iraq KIA

From GORUCK: In preparation for the invasion, CIA’s Special Activities Division paramilitary operations officers and 10th Special Forces Group soldiers were the first U.S. forces to enter Iraq as early as July 2002. Their main objective was to force multiply with the friendly Kurdish Peshmerga and battle Ansar al-Islam for control of strategic territory. When Turkey denied official use of its territory, the Coalition made Kuwait and other Persian Gulf nations their primary bases and modified the plan of attack to take place simultaneously from north and south.

The invasion was swift, beginning on March 19, 2003, and led to the collapse of the Iraqi government and military in about three weeks time. As planned, Coalition forces conducted simultaneous air and ground assaults and quickly incapacitated the Iraqi command structure, thus minimizing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. Some 44 oil wells were destroyed either by Iraqi explosives or incidental fire, dark streaks of smoke filled the skies.

​The destruction of the Saddam Hussein statue in Firdos Square marked the symbolic end of the Battle of Baghdad on April 9, 2003. On May 1, President George W. Bush declared an end to major combat operations and thus began the period of military occupation.

I look forward to many more AQ’s!

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