204th Brigade Support Battalion Gym fully restored, open for business

Photo By Sgt. Brandon Le Flore | "Warhorse" Soldiers from the 204th Brigade Support Battalion work out at the newly restored and fully functional gym at Camp Bravo, May 5. The battalion recently brought in more than $70,000 worth of new equipment to meet the fitness needs of the Soldiers here.  

BASRA, IRAQ

05.06.2009

Story by Sgt. Brandon Le Flore 

Multi-National Division-South

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq — The 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division gymnasium at Camp Bravo is now fully functional and ready to meet the fitness needs of the "Warhorse" Soldiers.

With more than $70,000 worth of new equipment, the gym is complete with several different cardio and muscle-building machines to provide much-needed recreational activities for the Soldiers here.

"All the machines here are brand new," said Sgt. Armand Rodriguez, San Antonio native and petroleum supply specialist with the 204th BSB. Rodriguez also serves as the non-commissioned officer in charge of the 204th gym.

When the 204th BSB took over the gym from the British security forces, they had to completely restore it.

"There was dust and dirt everywhere," said Rodriguez. "The machines weren't working too well and we had to build rooms to house the cardio equipment. We had to completely clean it out."

In less than a month, Soldiers from the 204th BSB completely cleaned out the gym, brought in brand new equipment and connected tents to create fitness rooms to house all the equipment.

The gym is made up of four rooms, the first, and largest room contains brand new bench press and other muscle-building machines, the next room contains mostly free weights, the third has stationary bikes, elliptical and stair climbing machines and the fourth room houses the treadmills.

With all the new equipment, the gym is now fully functional and ready for use by Warhorse Soldiers.

The Camp Bravo gym meets the fitness needs of Soldiers in the brigade, said Spc. Robert Reina, power generation specialist, Company B, 204th BSB.

"Just about all of the equipment in the gym came in recently, and for the most part [the gym] works pretty well," added Reina.

The Camp Bravo gym leadership is currently working to start fitness challenges, such as weight-lifting contests, in the gym.

• Date Taken: 05.06.2009
• Date Posted: 05.13.2009 08:42
• Story ID: 33549
• Location: BASRA, IQ