As the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb enjoys its 110th birthday and America its 250th, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is set to celebrate its 75th. With “The Originals” being stationed at nearby Fort Carson, the unit once again led caravan of Army vehicles up the mountain to present the American flag at the summit.

Like in previous years, the group consisted of a Polaris Sportsman MV850 and Polaris MRZR Alpha. Infantry Service Vehicles, incidentally built with motorsports DNA, were also present.

“We’re really proud to be part of that and the legacy of this incredible race,” the 10th’s commander Col. Nathanael “Nate” Joslyn told the race broadcast. “On the year where we’re celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, it’s just great to be here and be part of it.”

The Originals has been showing up to the PPIHC since 2024. It is one of seven United States Army Special Forces group currently in active service alongside the 1st headquartered at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, 3rd (Fort Bragg), 5th (Fort Campbell), 7th (Eglin Air Force Base), and 19th (Camp Williams); true to the nickname, the 10th is the oldest of the septet.

As part of its role, the 10th SFG(A) oversees American and allied special forces operations in Europe but has also led missions in the Middle East.

Joslyn, who commissioned in the Army as an infantry officer in 2004 and had two separate assignments with the 10th before becoming commander, feels there are parallels between his troops and hillclimbers like trusting in the crew and preparation. Similar sentiment was echoed by Jerimiah L. Brown when he spoke with the PPIHC broadcast at last year’s race; Brown left his role as the 10th’s Chief Warrant Officer a few weeks ago, with a change of responsibility ceremony taking place at Fort Carson on June 4.

“At every level of the team, you need trust. You have to have accountability to each other, and you have to have ownership in what you’re doing,” Joslyn continued. “I think we see those same kinds of attributes reflected in the teams out here, the crews and the drivers, that they have to bring all together to ultimately navigate that 12 miles and 156 turns up there. I think we see a lot of the shared attributes in culture, especially that team-based element.

“Most of the time, most of the effort, most of the energy is really in that preparation and it’s the same for our teams. As I talked to some of the crews and drivers: hours, weeks, months of preparation. It’s really the focus and the discipline of getting the little things right that make that moment of execution, those 13 minutes that are out there as the drivers are navigating this incredible course, all of that goes into making that moment happen. That’s something we see very much in our in our profession as well.”

Besides supporting the local community, the 10th was also present to root for their own Eli Olivas. Olivas was an infantryman in the 1990s followed by serving in Iraq as a medical sergeant in the Originals. Driving a 2024 Superlite Aero nicknamed “Mourning Star” as it bears the names of fallen special forces troops, he finished 37th overall and fifth in Super Unlimited.

“Anybody, as they get up here, has to be struck with a feeling of awe and excitement,” Joslyn commented. “Just the mountain itself and what you look around and see, and then the vehicles are amazing. But the people, I think, are really what gets you excited about being here. It’s wonderful that we have a little bit better weather this year. Just the excitement is electric. As you get up here and you and you talk to whether it’s spectators, crews, drivers, everybody is full of excitement and ready to go. It’s great to be part of that.

“After doing my first tour, I really wanted to be part of something that was we talked about the team-based culture. I remembered some of the special forces folks that I had worked with when I was a college student. Their example and the kind of people they were really drew me to want to try out, and I did. Some 16, 17 years later, still doing it. I feel very lucky to be able to do it because it’s a community.”

The 10th SFG(A) was founded in 1952. With the 75th anniversary looming, the unit plans to host a ball on June 19, 2027, by raising $1.775 million. Two days before the race, the Green Beret Foundation announced the creation of The Originals Fund to support 10th SFG(A) veterans.

Featured image credit: Sgt. Oniel McDonald