The 2nd Annual Heroes Ruck Challenge Saturday, March 14, 2015 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Are you ready for a challenge to help a great cause?

Do you want to see how your team matches up against teams from all branches of

our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, EMS, ROTC, scouting and local

sports teams?

Do you want a chance to show your support for the men and women in uniform?

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance is proud to present

The 2nd Annual Heroes Ruck Challenge on March 14, 2015

A 15.3 mile road march charity race benefitting

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance - Central AR

The charity route starts at the Clinton Presidential Center grounds, winds

through downtown Little Rock, up River Trail Rd to the Big Dam Bridge,

crosses over to Cook’s Landing and back to the Clinton Presidential Center

using the Arkansas River Trail

Teams will consist of five members each carrying a minimum 35lb

rucksack / duty gear.

Each mile along the route will commemorate the sacrifice of a fallen

service member or first responder.

Teams are also encouraged to march "in memory of" or "in honor

of" an injured or fallen comrade.

Teams will compete in four divisions

Active Duty Division - is open to those who are currently on active duty

status in a military, law enforcement, Fire & Rescue or EMS unit. This

also includes volunteer firefighters actively serving a community.

Former Duty Division - is open to those who are former members of an

active duty military or first responder unit to include Veteran Service

Groups and or those Honorably discharged and retired.

Civilian Division - is open to anyone who is not a current or former

active duty member in any unit who wants to honor those who served.

NEW THIS YEAR - Civilian Light Division Open for Youth and Civilian

teams who want to march to support our local heroes without the 35lb

rucksack requirement.

A trophy will be awarded to the winning team in each division.

Last year's trophies

All proceeds from the event will go toward the mission of SDIA in Central AR. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that serves the needs of the men and women serving in our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue and EMS services – a community

of people we call “Sheep Dogs.”

Official Rules

Division Eligibility

The Active Duty Division is open to those who are currently on active

duty status in a Military, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue or EMS

unit. This also includes volunteer firefighters actively serving a

community volunteer fire unit and College ROTC units.

The Former Duty Division is open to those who are former members of

active duty unit to include Veterans Groups and those with Honorable

Discharges and Retirees.

The Civilian Division is open to anyone who is not a current or former

active duty member in any unit who wants to honor those who served.

NEW THIS YEAR - The Civilian Light Division is open for Youth and

Civilian teams who want to march to support our local heroes without the

35lb rucksack requirement.

School sporting teams, JROTC and Scout units may enter in the Civilian

or Civilian Light Division.

Active Duty Division

Teams will consist of five participants. All members of the team must

cross the finish line with in 20 seconds of each other. Failure to do so

will result in disqualification. Any team finishing with less than five

members will be disqualified from placing.

Active Duty participants will wear BDU’s, ACUs, or their service

equivalent uniform IAW their department/unit standards. Distinctive unit

T-shirts may be worn in place of the regulation T-shirts or in lieu of uniform

tops. All shirts will be tucked and will exhibit a high level of professionalism. All

team members must be in identical uniforms. PT uniforms are not acceptable.

Participants must have a minimum of 35 pounds of duty specific gear to include

their rucksacks/backpacks, which can be weighed and verified at the finish

line. The frame of the ruck/backpack will count towards the 35-pound limit. Alice

Style, Blackhawk, Propper and Molle or civilian packs are authorized. The 35

pounds cannot include rocks, sandbags (unless securely taped shut), logs, water or

other items which could be picked up along the route. Marchers with less than 35

pounds at the end of the race will be disqualified from placing unless that member

has a documented physical condition that precludes him from carrying the

weight. In that case, the weight will be distributed among the team and carried

throughout the challenge.

Fire units may substitute rucksacks with bunker gear and air tanks as long as the

weight meets the 35-pound minimum standard.

Footwear is limited to military service recognized boots. Consult your service

regulations. Hi-Tech style boots may be worn only if authorized by individual

service regulations or commander.

All categories are required to have a military style water source, i.e. LBE, LCE,

camelback or service equivalent. Wa ter carrying devices do not have to be worn

through the race but will not be weighed as part of the official duty gear. If the

marcher chooses to carry their water source in their rucksack, the water source and

all components of water carrying equipment, (LBV, canteens, canteen cup, etc)

will be removed before weigh in.

NO team will abandon or leave behind a member. If a team member cannot

continue, it is the team’s duty to ensure that they’re left in the care of route medical

personnel. The team captain will contact the route staff with a number given to

them before the event and the appropriate medical personnel will respond. Once a

team member is left in the care of medical personnel, the remainder of the team

may choose to complete the course; however, the entire team is disqualified from

placing.

Pioneering poles and hiking sticks are not authorized in the Active Duty division

ROTC / JROTC Units

Senior ROTC team uniform requirements are the same as their respective military

counterpart.

Junior ROTC teams may enter in either Military or Civilian March categories.

In the JROTC team category, instructors may march with the cadets as a team

member or as a group leader without charge as long as there are five registered

members.

Former Duty Division

Teams will consist of five participants. All members of the team must cross the

finish line within 20 seconds of each other. Failure to do so will result in

disqualification. Any team finishing with less than five members will be

disqualified.

Former Duty participants may wear BDUs, ACUs or their former service

equivalent uniform. Distinctive unit T-shirts may be worn in place of the regulation

T-shirt or in lieu of uniform tops. All shirts will be tucked and will exhibit a high

level of professionalism. All team members must be in identical uniforms.

Participants must have a minimum of 35 pounds of duty specific gear to include

their rucksacks/backpacks, which can be weighed and verified at the finish

line. The frame of the ruck/backpack will count towards the 35 pound limit. Alice

Style, Blackhawk Propper and Molle packs are authorized. The 35 pounds cannot

included rocks, sandbags (unless securely taped shut), logs, water or other items

which could be picked up along the route. Marchers with less than 35 pounds at

the end of the race will be disqualified from the competition unless that member

has a documented physical condition that precludes him from carrying the

weight. In the case, that weight will be distributed among the team and carried

throughout the challenge.

All participants will wear appropriate footwear for the route.

All participants will have a water source along the route at all times. Water

carrying devices do not have to be worn through the race but will NOT be weighed

as part of the official weight of the duty gear. If the marcher chooses to carry their

water source in their rucksack, the water source and all components of water-

carrying equipment, (LBV, canteens, canteen cup, etc) will be removed prior to

weigh in.

No team will abandon or leave behind a member. If a team member cannot

continue, it is the team’s duty to ensure that they’re left in the care of route medical

personnel. The team captain will contact the route staff with a number given to

them before the event and the appropriate medical personnel will respond. Once a

team member is left in the care of medical personnel, the remainder of the team

may choose to complete the course; however, the entire team is disqualified from

placing.

Pioneering poles and hiking sticks are authorized in the Former Duty division.

Civilian Division

Teams will consist of five participants. All members of the team must cross the

finish line within 20 seconds of each other. Failure to do so will result in

disqualification. Any team finishing with less than five members will be

disqualified.

Participants must have a minimum of 35 pounds in their rucksacks/backpacks,

which can be weighed and verified at the finish line. The frame of the

ruck/backpack will count toward the 35-pound limit. Alice Style, Blackhawk

Propper, and Molle packs are authorized. The 35 pounds cannot include rocks,

sandbags (unless securely taped shut), logs, water or other items which could be

picked up along the route. Marchers with less than 35 pounds at the end of the race

will be disqualified from the competition unless that member has a documented

physical condition that precludes him from carrying the weight. In that case, the

weight will be distributed among the team and carried throughout the challenge.

Teams marching in the Civilian Light Division are required to comply with all

rules except for the minimum 35 lb rucksack or duty gear.

Participants registered in the Civilian Division may wear any footwear or attire,

except a complete recognized military uniform, appropriate for road marching.

Individual components of military type clothing (i.e., BDU trousers, military boots,

military headgear, etc., may be worn, but the participant must be easily

distinguishable as a non-military entrant by finish line personnel.

All participants will have a water source along the route at all times.

No team will abandon or leave behind a member. If a team member cannot

continue, it is the team’s duty to ensure that they are left in the care of route

medical personnel. The team captain will contact the route staff with a number

given to them before the event and the appropriate medical personnel will

respond. Once a team member is left in the care of medical personnel, the

remainder of the team may choose to complete the course; however, the entire team

is disqualified from placing.

Members of the Civilian Light division may split the route between the five

members and participate in 5 three mile legs to complete the course. Teams are

responsible for pick up and drop off of individual members along the route and all

members of the team must be at the finish line at the completion of the event.

Pioneering poles and hiking sticks are authorized in the civilian division.

Miscellaneous

Minimum age to participate is 13 years old providing the individual is registered

and marching with a parent/guardian or group leader 18 years or older. Groups of

minors must be accompanied by a group leader/coach. Group leaders are not

required to pay an additional fee as long as the minor group has five registered

members. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign

the required waiver form.

All participants must sign the required waiver form.

Participants must be in full uniform during the opening ceremony and at the start of

the march. Only uniform tops and headgear may be removed along the route as

desired.

All teams agree to stay close to the finish line until all participants finish the event

and celebrate their completion of the course. We are a family and we will leave no

one behind.

The route is on a public course and courtesy to other users must be exercised to

others during the course of the event. Team members are prohibited to walk more

than two persons wide while on the trail to allow other runners and bicyclist to

pass.

No pets, strollers, or rollerblades are allowed as part of the event

CD players, boom boxes, etc., are allowed only if headphones are used.

All team members must follow and stay on the designated route.

Removal of signs or other markers is strictly prohibited and will result in

disqualification.

Any trash must be disposed of in trash cans along the route or held on your person

until the race is complete.

Refunds will not be given due to inclement weather or cancellation of the march

Numbers will be attached to the front of the uniform only.

Vehicles are not allowed on the course. Teams may have support vehicles along

the route. The support vehicle cannot trail or lead the marchers but may stage

along the route, as safety and common sense allow, and provide the marchers with

food or water. Participants may not enter the support vehicle for any reason or

disqualification will result. Non-participants may be staged along the route to

encourage participants, but may not follow participants along the route.

If the support vehicle provides equipment (boots, socks, clothing), the participants

must remain in the appropriate uniform for the event they are participating. If a

participant completes any portion of the march in any uniform other than the

appropriate uniform for their category they will be disqualified.

Only team captains will report to march officials with any discrepancies or

grievances prior to the conclusion of the march. March officials will make final

decisions on all discrepancies or grievances.

Good sportsmanship and camaraderie is expected at all times!

The 2014 Civilian Division Winners

The 2014 Active Duty Division Winners

The 2014 Former Duty Division Winners

For more information, call 501-712-5514 X2 or contact us at jeffw@sheepdogia.org

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is an all-volunteer non-profit

organization that serves the needs of the men and women serving in our

military, law enforcement, fire & rescue and EMS services – a community

of people we call “Sheep Dogs.”

Check us out at www.sheepdogia.org or

our local Facebook page at

www.facebook.com/sheepdogcentralar

William J Clinton

Library

1200 President

Clinton Ave

Little Rock, AR

72201