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While serving in Afghanistan, the typical raid meant being dropped off several kilometers from the target under the cover of night, carrying 80 to 100 pounds of gear—kit, ammo, water, radios, and more. The maneuver involved low and slow movement toward the objective, often spending hours on target in that heavy gear before moving to another helicopter landing zone for extraction. These missions could last from 6 to 8 hours, demanding a stamina that doesn't fade over a few miles but sustains through long periods of effort with no safety net or room to quit.