Looking for a challenge?

Think about becoming a member of the Washington National Guard's Counter Drug Task Force (CDTF).

Headquartered at Camp Murray, the unit was established by Congressional order in 1988.  The CDTF provides support to law enforcement and community-based counter drug operations at the local, state and federal levels.

The CDTF's specific mission is to conduct a full-spectrum campaign against illicit drugs and transnational threats to the state.

"We're here to assist," Staff Sgt. Karl Karlsson, Washington Army National Guard (WANG), an instructor attached to the task force, said.  "We're the only schoolhouse in the country that teaches the kind of reconnaissance needed to be effective."

Some of the recon abilities of the CDFT lie on the water.

This was demonstrated recently when a Zodiac and its seven-member team silently oared across the water, parallel to a small beach.  

Gliding to a slow drift about 70 yards away, Sgt. David Aitchison, Arkansas Army National Guard, and I eased over the side of the boat and into American Lake.  We headed toward shore.

As "scout swimmers," we were to silently approach the shore in preparation of bringing our boat and the rest of the team ashore.

With the coast clear, we signaled and the remainder of the group brought the Zodiac into a beach-landing site, disembarked and took up defensive positions.

"Nicely done," Sgt. Josh, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), WANG, said.  "I did not hear you guys come in."

Due to real world mission sensitivity, "Josh" is a pseudonym.

Moving like smoke on the water is a sound strategy in waging the war on drugs in Washington state.

Serving on the CDTF requires an intellectual and physical commitment.

"The training we receive is very intense," Staff Sgt. Michael Lizarrago, WANG, said as he waded ashore after undergoing capsizing drills on American Lake. "A team member has to be sharp and in good physical shape."

The training is intense and is comprised of two phases.

First up is a 40-hour block of education centering on safety, operation orders and risk management.

The second part is 18 days in length, and focuses on land navigation, basic infantry skills, combatives, urban/rural surveillance and boat operations.

"Sometimes the terrain makes it easier to insert a boat and move to an objective rather than hike over tough ground," Karlsson explained.

Under Sgt. Josh's sharp eye, the seven Guard Soldiers practiced righting a capsized boat, conducted rescue operations, cleared a beach landing site and engaged in boat casting.

A casting operation consists of a Soldier holding a thickly padded loop off the side of the boat in order to hook the arm of another Soldier in the water.

Once the Servicemember in the water is hooked, his fellow team members haul him into the speeding boat and prepare for the next pick up.

"The training we undergo only makes us better to complete our mission," Karlsson said.  "If we save one person's life, we've accomplished a great mission."

For more information about the CDTF, visit www.washingtonguard.org.