The 5th Special Forces Group had a team racing in the Mint 400 – an annual off-road desert race that took place in Las Vegas, Nevada in early March 2020. The Mint 400 is one of the oldest and prestigious off-road races in America. It is held every year in March. This years event had over 550 race teams competing in many race classes over a rough 400 mile course.
The race was started in 1968 by the Mint Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event discontinued after the 1989 race but then resurrected in 2008. Currently the Mint 400 is one of the largest off-road races in the world. This years event was observed by over 65,000 fans.
One of the events in the race was the Mint 400 Military Challenge. This year over $100,000 was raised for charitable foundations that support veterans and their families. The military class featured a variety of combat vehicles in the race and for display to the fans.
The 5th Special Forces Group operational detachment ‘A’ entered two GMV 1.1 vehicles loaded with weapons, radios, and other geared suited for combat rather than a off-road race. The ODA pushed the vehicles to the limit in the unique desert setting. This was the first time that an active duty military element has participated with military vehicles.
The Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 is highly mobile and suited for all-terrain. It is considered armor ready and can carry four occupants in a multi-role configuration. The vehicle can be transported internally by a CH-47 Chinook and C-130 aircraft.
In 2019 representatives from the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) participated in the event. They were able to raise funds for the Marine Raider Foundation.
The Mint 400 Military Challenge will likely be an annual event that will add to the overall Mint 400 race. In addition, it is an event that will continue to raise money for worthy causes that help military service members, veterans and their families.
**********
References:
The Mint 400.
https://themint400.com/
5th SFG(A) Team Race in the Mint 400, 5th Special forces Group Public Affairs Officer, DVIDS, March 7, 2020.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/365392/5th-sfga-team-race-mint-400
Videos:
2020 Mint 400 Miss. Emily Dobrzenski provided some glamour to the off-road event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS1KA2FvghE
Justing Lofton – Method Race Wheels Qualifying. March 5, 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APfBJv1Oasc
More Mint 400 Videos on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/user/theMINT400/videos
Top Photo: Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), accelerate their Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 as they start their first lap in the Mint 400, March 06, 2020, in Primm, Nevada.
(U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Justin Moeller, 5th SFG(A) Public Affairs)
