[VAKEMP]

Gut checks are good, but making them mandatory annual "gut checks" for every soldier?

It reminds me of the leadership of the Mongolian Armed Forces when I was embedded with them. The senior officers had the junior officers and enlisted troops do a 30km ruck with 30kg (66#) packs. The straps for these packs were ropes, not the big comfy padded straps we are used to on ALICE packs and MOLLE gear. It was effective at improving morale; everyone felt great for completing the ruck, especially since the 30kg in those crappy packs sucked but everyone suffered together.

Then again, this was one of their infantry units that also completes 10km boots and utes runs every other day up and over the mountains surrounding the training area, and they run everywhere with full combat loads. I doubt their admin counterparts would be able to perform the same "gut checks", and honestly their jobs do not require the same "gut checks".