Photo Information

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Denise M. Mull, left, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment (CLR) 25, and Sgt.Maj. Scott M. Schmitt, CLR 25 sergeant major., participate in 25-mile challenge at Camp Lejeune, N.C., February 21, 2019. Mull created the 25 mile hike challenge for the Marines and Sailors of the unit to challenge them both physically and mentally. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Jenkins)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Scott Jenkins

Logistics Marines Complete 25-Mile Hike Challenge

12 Mar 2019 | Lance Cpl. Scott Jenkins 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Marines and Sailors assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in a 25-mile-hike at Camp Lejeune, N.C., February 21-22. The hike was a challenge from Marine Col. Denise Mull, the commander of unit, as a part of Marine Corps tradition dating back to 1908.

President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 issued Executive Order 989 stated that all Marine Corps officers of captain or lieutenant grade would be required to walk 50 miles in a three-day period of time to keep the Marine Corps a physically fit fighting force.

“[It's] less of a physical and more of a mental challenge,” said Mull, addressing the regiment during the award ceremony. “We are absolutely going to do this again. We are going to stay grounded in our war fighting ethos.”

With more than 550 service members competing and 342 finishers, Sgt. Peter Hornbeck, an assault amphibious vehicle technician assigned to 2nd Maintenance Battalion, placed 1st and completed the hike in 3 hours and 39 minutes.

“You can’t do anything if you’re not mentally prepared. You have just got to get out there and do it,” said Hornback.

Last year, Mull finished a 50-mile hike and adapted a scaled version of the challenge to 25 miles to correlate with the unit’s name.