Steel Defenders - Pittsburgh, PA
Core Members
Sam Saintz
Eric Sowinski
Aaron Bowser
Andrew Komula
Al Swartz
Favorite Month To Ruck
November
Ideal Distance
Double the monthly challenge.
Favorite Pack/Ruck
Mystery Ranch…but honestly anything that’s comfortable with the weight.
Music?
YES! I (Al Swartz) have been elected to DJ. 90s/00s Alternative. Favorite songs are the “Nothing Else Matters” cover by Miley Cyrus and anything from Lonely Island.
Team Mascot
Nothing at this time…tabled for next ruck.
Post Ruck Routines
Review of ambush techniques, gear setup, and pondering future goals about how to be super tactical. We have a few guys that are very into ABGD (prior nukes and "gear snobs"). Sometimes we grab beers.
Why Are You Completing the RDRC
The biggest push for these rucks is to invite new Airman, members that are on other Flights, and the Traditional Reservists out so we can build unit cohesion. We want to highlight that we are teammates first and don’t need to be heavily reliant on our ranks. We leave the job behind and really get to know the people, their goals, ambitions, etc.
Biggest Takeaway
Try something new. Especially if it scares you. Most people can't seem to get out of their comfort zone. Allowing yourself to let your guard down to giving and receiving helpful advice from people you may not normally get to talk to on a regular basis has truly made a noticeable difference between the Flights. Everyone has a point of view or perspective that could be the missing piece to your journey. I’m (Al Swartz) not very extroverted and these rucks have helped me bridge a gap between my teammates and me.