One airman reads off the objects she was responsible for remembering from a notepad while another member of her team writes them on the official form at the end of the course at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. While listed as a memorization event, nothing in the rules prevented airmen from writing down the names of the objects they saw near the beginning of the course. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
One airman reads off the objects she was responsible for remembering from a notepad while another member of her team writes them on the official form at the end of the course at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. While listed as a memorization event, nothing in the rules prevented airmen from writing down the names of the objects they saw near the beginning of the course. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Participants in the 352nd Special Operations Group's Monster Mash gather for a course briefing at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. The course was part of the SOG Olympics, a series of competitions and a prelude to the Fourth of July holiday. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Airmen crawl across a wet field at Heritage Track at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 during the first event of the Monster Mash. The 10-event course had both mental and physical tests. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Once reaching a certain point on the course, airmen participating in the Monster Mash could move across the field in a "bear crawl," using their hands and feet. The competition was part of a 10-event course covering more than seven miles on RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Teams in the 352nd Special Operations Group's Monster Mash competition were given a brief look at these items. At the end of the mash course, around two hours later, the teams had to write down the items they saw from memory. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Airmen at this point in the Monster Mash course might have preferred to ride in the Humvee rather than push it, but push they did, during the competition at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Airmen bear a teammate in a litter on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, during the 352nd Special Operations Group's Monster Mash competition at RAF Mildenhall, England. When the litter carry ended, one person from the team was called upon to answer questions about medical care before the team was allowed to move on to the next event. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
A Monster Mash team carries a small boat near the airfield at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Carrying various items --- large and small --- was a major part of the approximately seven-mile course. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Nearing the end, participants in the 352nd Special Operations Group's Monster Mash carry backpacks down a path on RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013, toward one of the last stations in the course. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Members of a Monster Mash team attempt to assemble three common military weapons at RAF Mildenhall on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. Each weapon was worth five points and failure to assemble a weapon properly would hurt the team's standing against its competitors. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Airman 1st Class Julia Cap takes off her gas mask after completing the gas mask run/sprint portion of the Monster Mash at RAF Mildenhall, England, on Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
RAF MILDENHALL, England — Some people mark the Fourth of July with burgers, hot dogs and potato salad. Add to that an outdoor lounge chair, and most would have an ideal holiday.
Unless you’re in the 352nd Special Operations Group at RAF Mildenhall. Then you carry boats, push Humvees and run while wearing a gas mask.
The 352nd took time off of work the day before Independence Day to host Monster Mash, a 10-event course covering more than seven miles on the base. Teams competed for the best score in the course that included mental challenges, such as recalling basic medical treatments, and assembling weapons.
The mash was only one part in a series of events called the 352nd SOG Olympics. The olympics consists of the Monster Mash, rugby, dodgeball, basketball and other competitions. The squadron that did the best earned a pig statue, known as the “SOG hog.”
And, of course, the right to brag about carrying a boat.
