Feature Story – Team All-American Brittney is Army Strong

Team All-American Brittney Deliveries Inspirational Performance Through Teamwork and Displaying Army Strong Spirit

Doug and Brittney Sprowl embody everything for which the Army Ten-Miler stands – to support Army outreach, build morale, and promote physical fitness. Both Captains in the Army who have been married for two years after a decadelong friendship, the couple displayed their Army Strong teamwork and fortitude in the 2020 Army Ten-Miler that unfolded virtually and stretched throughout the U.S. and even overseas.

Each in their sixth year of service, Brittney is deployed overseas with the 1-73rd CAV Squadron in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), while Doug remains stateside, completing a two-year training program with the Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS).

Brittney was born in Germany and Doug was born in Brazil, although both grew up in the States, having graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2015. Prior to settling into their current domicile at Fort Bragg, North Carolina – home to the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations Command – Brittney served in Arizona and New York while Doug served in Georgia and Alaska.

Team All-American Brittney was created in Brittney’s honor and to recognize all service-members currently deployed worldwide. Family, colleagues and friends signed up to run virtually, forming a team of more than 30 participants and representing nine states – Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia – as well as the District of Columbia.

Currently the unit’s lead in her Squadron’s communications department, Brittney was among 75 Soldiers to participate in the official ATM Shadow Run on October 11 in the Middle East. The group consisted of runners, kit-runners, and 18 ruckers who pushed themselves to their physical and mental limits. Rucking refers to hiking under load

– typically carrying a large backpack weighing roughly 55 pounds, while in uniform and boots – to serve as the maximum challenge.

Within the first half-mile, Brittney – in full rucking attire – was mired in last place. While finishing first was hardly a priority, she forged ahead and found herself passing Soldiers at miles six and seven. Approaching mile nine, she observed a Soldier struggling, who had removed their ruck and was getting sick. A challenge to complete ten miles under the best of conditions, adding the extra bulk makes for an even more daunting scenario. Brittney didn’t know the Soldier but stopped and checked on her struggling teammate who had lost focus and was having trouble continuing the race.

So, Brittney did what she was taught to do for a Soldier in need. Doug explains: “Professionally, we are a family and abide by the ‘Buddy-System’ and ‘Warrior Ethos’ which

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states that ‘I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade’. The couple’s strong faith also served as a guiding force with Doug citing Hebrews 12:1 as being particularly inspirational as it states “… let us run with endurance and patience the race God has set before us.”

With that in mind, Brittney agreed to help and refused to let the Soldier quit. First, she provided water and supplies with which to clean up. Next she hoisted the Soldier’s ruck, strapped it around her front for a combined weight of 110 pounds.

Having already rucked more than eight miles, the pair walked more than half-a-mile to get back on track and Brittney returned the Soldier’s ruck so they could both finish on their own terms. Her leaders and fellow Soldiers cheered Brittney on as she crossed the finish line at 2:21:07 and congratulated her for being the first female Rucker finisher.