For overcoming some of the obstacles
“I thought his was Tough Mudder, not soft mudder! Someone get him two graham crackers and a piece of chocolate to go with this marshmallow,” one of the drill sergeants yelled in character via bullhorn while the participants laughed. The drill sergeants also shared their "motivation" at the Army Activation space.
The Activation space allowed guests to meet local Army Reserve Soldiers, recruiters and even race against the clock in a timed physical challenge for prizes. The challenge includes pullups, pushups, low-crawl and moving a weighted sled while being motivated by multiple drill sergeants.
However, soldiers did more than simply shout at participants; they also gave participants high-fives at the starting line and wished them good luck. Some of the participants thanked the soldiers for their service and shook their hands.
Throughout the race, Soldiers cheered the participants and helped provide advice for overcoming some of the obstacles. One obstacle in particular, the Berlin Wall, a 12-foot tall obstacle is particularly tough on the participants. Soldiers on the wall provide advice on tackling the wall that require a variety of methods for participants who wants to do it alone or those who have teammates to help them.
One of those participants who had teammates was Lance Cpl. Erik Galvin, who became a triple amputee after an IED attack near Saigin, Afghanistan, in 2011. Thanks to the Wishes For Warriors Corp., he was able to participate in the event while his wife watched. The U.S. Army partners with Tough Mudder because it inspires racers to strive for the best, push their personal limits and encourages participants to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Tough Mudder helped raise over $6.5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project, which has helped the transition of thousands of returning veterans.