Photo By Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton | Cpl. Francisco Sanchez, supply non-commissioned officer from Service Company, climbs...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Headquarters and Service Battalion personnel took on the Endurance Course, April 27, for a battalion physical training event at Page Field.
The Marines tackled the wooded trails of the course in groups of five. Their obstacles included vertical walls to climb, barbed wire to crawl under and large gaps to clear by swinging on ropes.
Each team ran from one obstacle to the next, striving to best their competition.
“I used friendly competition to motivate the Marines,” explained Capt. Rod Burks, company commander for Service Company, H&S Bn. “Competition pushes the Marines to do more than what they thought they could.”
The course, which stretches across about two miles of Page Field through beaten paths, challenges the physical stamina of participants.
“I’m a zealot about fitness, and I want everybody to feel the same way,” Burks said. “It’s the job of the leadership to ensure their Marines are given guidance, but who said we couldn’t make it fun?”
The help of the battalion’s operations and training section, along with the company offices, made the physical training session a success with 70 Marines taking part in the course.
“I was pleased with the turnout,” Burks said. “I’d anticipated about that number of Marines to participate.”
The change of pace was intended to keep the Marines in a combat-ready state of fitness.
“It was definitely a nice change to the usual three-mile runs,” said Staff Sgt. Shacobie Washington, company gunnery sergeant of Service Company, H&S Bn. “It was a good challenge for the Marines and came as a little bit of surprise for them. That’s why it’s good to stay physically fit.”
Many of the obstacles involve the use of upper-body strength, core muscles, teamwork and sheer effort.
These types of events help build a deeper sense of brotherhood and camaraderie, Burks explained.
“It’s different and challenging. Marines will reap a greater benefit and it develops camaraderie and Esprit de Corps,” he said.
Although many Marines were fatigued by the time they reached the end of the course, their teammates support and personal drive pushed them to jog back to the starting point – one mile away.
“I use competition with everything,” Burks said. “It’s kind of what drives us. Headquarters and Service belong together as H&S Bn., but it’s good to have that friendly competition here once in a while. Ultimately it’s a competition against yourself.”
| Date Taken: | 05.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2011 13:32 |
| Story ID: | 69905 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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