A pair of teammates climb a muddy hill in the Shock 'N Rock: Reloaded obstacle course. (Gregory Broome/Stars and Stripes)

A pair of teammates climb a muddy hill in the Shock 'N Rock: Reloaded obstacle course. (Gregory Broome/Stars and Stripes)

A competitor traverses a rope hanging over a muddy pool in the Shock 'N Rock: Reloaded obstacle course event. (Gregory Broome/Stars and Stripes)

Teams of intrepid American and German servicemembers jumped headlong into deep, squishy mud Thursday at the Baumholder Training Area in Lager Aulenbach, Germany, testing strength, endurance and teamwork for the Shock 'N Rock: Reloaded obstacle-course race.

The event sent competitors through 15 obstacles on its grueling four-kilometer path through the sprawling fields and lengthy trails that form the training facility outside of U.S. Army Garrison Baumholder. Upon completion, the mud-caked participants hosed off in an outdoor shower area and formed eager lines for pork kebabs and hamburgers.

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