Spc. Rafael Rios slung a rope over his right shoulder and began to quickly pull the green, hard plastic medical sled toward an evacuation point.

"This is hard work," he gasped as he stepped aside to let Pfc. Tim Young step up and into the rope harness and begin pulling.

"Like I said, it's hard work."

Assigned to the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Young and Rios hauled a simulated wounded soldier to safety during the basic combat lifesaving skills portion of the battalion's Muleskinner Logistics Training Competition.

Muleskinner?

A muleskinner was a professional mule driver whose sold purpose was to keep the mules moving toward their objective.

The term "skinner" is slang for one who could outsmart - or "skin" - a mule, an animal that has the characteristic of being very stubborn.

Depending upon the amount and weight of cargo to be pulled from one point to another, the "skinner" could be in charge of one mule or a team of mules.

In most cases, the muleskinner rode on the back of one mule and used an attached leather line - called a "jerk line" - to steer and control the movements of the mules.

An experienced muleskinner knew every characteristic of each mule in order to move goods and supplies over challenging terrain.

Today, muleskinner is a term used to describe today's modern logistics troops who face a number of challenges in completing their primary combat mission.

"It's vital for us to be able to step up when another soldier goes down, particularly when deployed," said Staff Sgt. Luke Jacoby.

"A truck driver needs to be able to assemble and use a M2.50 caliber heavy machine gun."

Recognizing the need to sharpen the battalion's combat skills, Lt. Col. Haydn Hungerford, commander, took the initiative and began the training competition while the unit was deployed in Iraq in 2009-2010.

"It was the CO's idea; and this competition is the first time we've held it in garrison," said Jacoby.

During the four-day event (which ends today), the Muleskinner Logistics Training Competition promoted physical fitness, enhanced professional knowledge and tested every soldier's ability to perform a wide spectrum of logistical skills.

"There is no time limit on loading a single channel, plain text, low power Singars radio," said Sgt. Bobby Gilbert.  

"Each Soldier needs to be able to communicate on the battlefield, and this is good training to that end."

Along with being tested on their combat lifesaving and digital radio skills, Soldiers were also tested in operating a 2000-gallon water tank, assembling four different types of weapons' systems, and preforming maintenance checks on vehicles.

"Everyone needs a basic understanding of what they need to be able to do when we fight," said Capt. Elvin Fortuna.

"Mechanics, medics, cooks, truck drivers - we all must be able to complete the mission."

Muleskinners of yore would expect nothing less.