The Thang

Men,

It’s honestly hard to put into words what this weekend was, but I want to do my best to capture it.

We kicked off GRE69 at 10pm Friday night and didn’t finish until 7:30pm Saturday. Nearly 22 hours of movement, pressure, problem solving, and leaning on each other. This one was different from the start. It was the longest event to date. We partnered with Freedom Ops, and I can’t say enough about Cadre Danny, Bones, and Skivvies. They brought intention to everything we did and made sure this wasn’t just a workout, it was a true growth experience.

This event was built by a group of men representing five F3 regions. Parks and Rec, Urkel, Big Gong, PeeWee, Plunger, and myself. This wasn’t about one region. This was all of us coming together again as 1 mega region who originated from F3 Naperville. We had 20 men show up, not fully knowing what they signed up for, but willing to find out. And that right there is what made the whole thing special.

The night started how you’d expect. Gear check, movement, getting right into it but we quickly had to make our first pivot after the PT test / welcome party. The temperature dropped hard, and what we had planned outside wasn’t going to work. So we adapted. We moved into my garage and rolled into GROW School. We broke into fire teams and started rotating men through runs and learning sessions. Guys were out logging miles while others were taking in information, then switching and teaching it back. It wasn’t just physical. It forced communication, leadership, and trust. By the time we stepped out again around 5am, we had already built something deeper than just miles.

From there, things got uncomfortable in a different way. We loaded into the U-69 U-Haul Transport Vehicle with no idea where we were going, packed in tight, sitting on each other, just trusting the process. When those doors opened, the sun hit, and we had a new mission, to infiltrate King’s Den Convergence without being seen. Moving as a unit, adjusting on the fly, and then charging in together… that was one of those moments you don’t forget. We participated in a huge game of capture the flag, straight into fellowship, breaking bread and having coffee after being up all night. It was a reminder of why we do this and the magic of F3.

But the day was just getting started. Once we got moving again, the work kept stacking. Speed drills, coordination work, moving as a team strapped together on 2x4s. Everything required communication and patience. Then the sandbags came out, and we all knew it was on. What was labeled 40 pounds felt like 60, and we worked through ascending ladders of thrusters and pull-ups. You could see it in everyone’s face. We were getting pushed.

Then came Death by Mile. Most of the guys cleared the 9-minute mark, but nobody hit the 8. At that point, we were cooked. But we still had more to go.

We got back in the van, and when those doors opened again, we were staring at 300 stairs at Swallow Cliff.  The only rule was you couldn’t walk and had to complete 5 stair climbs. Most Fireteams sprinted, bunny hopped, bear crawl, side shuffle up those stairs. You just had to keep moving. By the end of that, legs were shot, lungs were burning, and we were digging deep.

From there, we loaded into the U69-U-Haul Transport Vehicle for what was our last stop. The van door opened and we were at Settlers Park. The first thought was, we are 8 miles from Startex!!!   This evolution hit in a unique way. Skivvies shared about his friend Willy, and we did a workout in his honor. That one stuck. It wasn’t just physical pain anymore, it carried meaning, and you could feel that across the group. This was the moment the whole event changed. Men were gassed, questioning why they signed up for this, and praying the pain would end.

Then came the moment we all kind of knew was coming. The U-Haul was gone. We were told the next point, and we knew we were running back. Eight miles. No support, just two lines of men moving together, staying disciplined, following every light, every signal. That stretch got quiet. Guys were hurting. People were digging deep into whatever they had left. We missed the time hack, and the “helicopter” was gone, but they left us with one more task. Pick up the equipment left behind and keep moving.

20 ruck sacks were laid out and a fresh bottle of water on top. Just enough time to take a drink and quick enough to not think about what was next.

Thirty pounds each, loaded up, and the mission was simple. March north and don’t stop. And that’s exactly what we did for the most part. In GTE fashion we got punished for not following direction. We stopped 3 separate times and Cadre Danny taught us about following directions. Step by step. Shoulder to shoulder. As we got closer to the Endex, shots fired. We had a few guys go down, and that’s when the real lesson showed up. We now had to carry 3 wounded pax and their ruck. No one was getting left behind.

And then… we made the final turn.

We started to see our families.

Wives standing there. Kids running toward us, yelling “Dad!” trying to find their dad in the line. That moment hit harder than anything else the entire weekend. After everything we went through, to come around that corner and see them… it’s hard to describe.

We finished the event, set the evacuation point, and gathered up top of the hill for a quick closeout. I had a chance to thank the team, the men, everyone who made this happen. Dilly Dilly shared some words that hit home, and then we formed up in our fire teams, this time in front of our families.

One by one, we were awarded our Freedom Ops medals.

20 men started. 20 men finished.

What made this one different for me… I’ve done five of these now. The first one is about survival. The second one, you realize how much you need the men around you. The third, you start pouring into others. Each one has had its purpose in my life from Louisville to St. Louis, to hosting in Plainfield, to showing up for my shield lock, to planting the seed for this one in Naperville.

But this one…

This one was different because our families got to see it.

They didn’t just hear about it after the fact. They watched us march in. They saw what it took. They saw their men push, struggle, and finish.

It wasn’t just “Dad went to a workout.”

Dad was on a mission.

And that, for me, was one of the most powerful moments I’ve experienced.

Proud of every single one of you.

—Bedpan