"Roberts Under the Hat"
Prior to joining the military in 2001, I only had a slight idea what ruck marching was. Well in January 2001 when I hit Ft. Benning as the first step to becoming an infantryman, I quickly learned what it was all about. I remember dreading the idea of walking long distances while carrying what felt like the world on my back at first. Well, as time went on, and I learned the tricks of the trade I slowly fell in love with it. Here recently I entered a 90-day rucksack challenge with an outdoor group I am in. I hadn't seriously ruck marched since I left the Army in 2005. Well on the very first ruck march I was reacquainted with my one of my many loves of my infantry days. My body is a lot older and a lot heavier than what it was in my Army days and it hurt quite a bit, but it was painfully awesome to be back on the road marching again. I think a lot of people outside of military truly do not understand the many benefits of strapping up a ruck and stepping out on a march. For me, there are many benefits. Obviously the physical fitness side of it is a plus, but also the mental side of it. Ruck Marching is a great physical fitness activity. It builds strength, burns calories, and builds endurance. Men's Health magazine published an article in May 2015 written by Michael Easter that talks about the benefits of ruck marching. Easter lists six good things about ruck marching in his article. He states that it crushes calories, relieves and prevents back pain (This does not include the soreness from actually doing good work). Ruck Marching also safely builds endurance, will make you better in the gym, is cheap and easy to do, and will also help change up the pace by getting you out of the gym. It has been my experience that ruck marching builds leg strength, back strength, shoulder strength and even works the core. The physical advantages of ruck marching are simply undeniable. To me, ruck marching is also great for the mind. When ruck marching alone I use my marching time to clear my head, spend some time thinking and sorting out problems. For me, it also allows me time to reminisce about various things. When I walk with someone, it allows for good conversation. I most often walk with my fiancé, and it allows us to spend some quality time just her and I. Sometimes I walk with a buddy. The other day I walked with a fellow a grunt, and we spent the whole walk swapping war stories and comparing our times in the military, next thing you know we covered a good distance with ease. Ruck Marching also teaches patience and perseverance. It teaches you no matter how bad it hurts just to keep putting one foot in front of the other. A couple quick tips if you want to get out there and do some rucking. 1. Get good footwear, I march in a pair of my Army boots. However, there are a lot of options out there, just depends on your comfort (also good insoles make a huge difference). 2. Wear good socks, thick boot socks or a good athletic sock is a good choice. 3. Find a good pack, I march with an old large ALICE pack and frame because that's what I am used to. Find you a good comfortable pack that will hold up and is comfortable. 4. Pack it right, my ruck weighs about 45 to 50 lbs., however, a good 35 lbs. Ruck is perfect, and you can pack it with rice beans whatever you want. I recommend putting the heaviest stuff on the top of the ruck, not the bottom. By packing it top heavy you will relieve the pressure on your lower back, and the weight sits more on your shoulders. 5. Start small and work your way up to heavier weight and farther distances, and push yourself each time. In closing, that sums up my thoughts about ruck marching. I love it and feel great since I have picked it back up and do not plan on stopping anytime soon. Maybe shortly I'll be ready to take a shot at a 25-mile ruck like I did on the hills of Ft Benning during boot camp almost 15 yrs. ago. I encourage you to get out there and give it a shot. Until next time train real, train right and train often. Here is the link to the Men’s Health magazine http://www.menshealth.com/fitness/top-fitness-trend-of-2015 Robert Heckler
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Because of my background as a law enforcement officer, People often ask my opinion as to what gun they should buy to carry concealed. This question is asked by both men and women but most commonly it is women that mostly ask. The other question people usually ask me is “If I buy a gun, would you mind helping learn how to shoot it correctly?” My response to that question is always “of course I will!” When confronted with these questions, regardless if it is male or female, young or old, I always respond by asking them a question. “Are you prepared to kill someone?” When I first started asking that question, I anticipated a much different response than what I usually get. Especially from the female shooters. I hear “Well, I am not trying to kill anyone. I just want to scare them away!” By asking this question hundreds of times to people and getting a variety of responses from them. My opinion is of that a large majority of those wishing to carry a concealed weapon do indeed have the same mindset. They only want to scare them off. First off. I am very much pro concealed carry and honestly believe an armed society is a polite one. However, those that do carry these weapons must be of the mindset to be willing to use the weapon they carry. If you are not prepared to draw that weapon, squeeze the trigger and remove someone’s life from their body, then you need to get yourself a Taser or can of pepper spray. If you are not willing to use your gun but still present it to an offender, you have now put yourself at a much greater risk than you were before you pulled your weapon. We have all heard of the fight or flight response. When placed in a high-stress situation your animal instincts kick in to survive, and you have to decide at that second whether to engage in the fight or flee. Well, criminals do that same thing. Their human nature is to survive, just as yours is. More often than not though, criminals commit their crimes without killing anyone. The homicide to assault rate has a very wide margin. A criminal out to commit a crime may have no intentions whatsoever of killing you. But if you pull out a gun, he or she will go into fight or flight mode and do what they have to do to survive. No matter how wrong they are or how right you are. It is the way it is. If you skin that smoke wagon of yours and you are not prepared to use it, they very well may now skin theirs and be willing to use it. They may well sense that you are not willing to use your weapon. Then they may attack you with the intention of taking it away from you, so that they can use it on you now as a means for them to survive. Nine times out of 10, the offender may scream and scurry away at the sight of the gun. But then, that tenth time might just be the time a violator with no intentions of killing, sees your gun as a paper weight in your hands and decides to call your bluff. A gun is a deadly force option. If you are not prepared to use deadly force. Then you need to get yourself a nonlethal option. Gun fighting is not for everyone, but for those of us who wear the title proudly, we know that the mind is the most important aspect of any gun battle. So, if you already carry, are looking to carry, or have even thought about carrying, ask this question to yourself or your friend. Before you go and buy a gun, are you prepared to use it in defense of yourself or someone else? Are you prepared to pull the trigger and render a human being lifeless? If there is any question or hesitation, or if your answer is an outright no, then hang up your gun and tell them not to buy one. Go buy a Taser or stun gun instead. For those that have made the decisions to carry and strap on the tools of freedom every day; I commend your sheepdog. For you have taken on a great responsibility protecting yourself and the flock. Train hard, train real, train safe |
Robert HecklerFormer US Army infantryman and combat veteran. worked in law enforcement as a patrol supervisor, instructor, and SWAT operator. Holds a BS in criminal justice management and currently working towards his masters Archives
August 2015
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