Service members push, pull their way to comprehensive fitness

Photo By Sgt. Breeanna Pierce | U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Stephan Frennier, the senior enlisted advisor to the United States Forces-Iraq deputy commanding general for advising and training, motivates humvee competition participants here April 15. Challenge organizers have opened the competition phase to everyone, in a team-building effort that will enable WLC participants’ friends and co-workers to share in their quest for self improvement.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

04.15.2011

Story by Spc. Breeanna Pierce 

United States Forces – Iraq, Deputy Commanding General (Advising and Training)

BAGHDAD - Forward Operating Base Union III residents continue to work their way to a healthier lifestyle as part of a 10-week weight loss challenge inspired by the U.S. Army’s comprehensive soldier fitness program.

During the challenge’s first five weeks, participants learned techniques to create effective workout regimes and to learn how to eat healthier as a foundation for a healthier lifestyle.

From this point on, the challenge shifts into high gear as participants’ commitment to their new lifestyle will be tested through the course of several physical challenges.

The first of these challenges was the humvee push-pull competition here April 15.

The humvee competition, like other buddy and team challenges awaiting WLC participants, was designed to foster cohesiveness, improve morale, and promote camaraderie and physical fitness.

“It’s about fun, fitness and team work,” said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Stephan Frennier, the senior enlisted advisor to the United States Forces-Iraq Deputy commanding general for advising and training, addressing the participants. “You showed all three.”

Challenge organizers have opened the competition phase to everyone, in a team-building effort that will enable WLC participants’ friends and co-workers to share in their quest for self improvement, according to U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Algrish Williams, non-commissioned officer in charge of billeting with the International Zone Support Element, who helped organize this event.

Eight, five-person teams competed in the humvee competition.

Conducted in two phases, the competition began with a team member sprinting a distance of roughly 500 meters. Upon completion of the run phase, the remaining members of the team began pushing a 12,100-pound up-armored humvee 260 feet to the finish line. The teams’ overall time determined placement.

The “ATS Warriors,” a team composed of four males and one female, from the Armored Transportation Service here, took first place with the impressive time of 1:56.

Following closely behind was a team from Iraq Training Advisory Mission-Army and the IZ Sharepoint staff – “Monsters” – finishing with a time of 2:10.

Only one second off second place time was the team from the IZ Support Element Mayor Cell with a time of 2:11.

The Mayor Cell team has not only shown a high level of motivation by earning one of the top-three humvvee competition spots, the team has shown progress in the weight loss challenge.

Through the first five weeks of the challenge, the “Mayor Cell.U.Lite.Est” team has consistently placed in the top three team spots four times.

Along with the team from the Mayor Cell, the teams “70 Days of Rage” and “ITAM Slam” are also leading in overall weight loss in the WLC’s teams division.

The competition is very tight among buddy teams, as the “Old Farts” are currently leading with “B&C” and the “Dynamic Duo” following closely.

In the individuals’ category, Richard McCart, Lt. Col. Steven Ballew and Lisa Cantu are leading respectively.

To date, participants in the WLC have lost a combined 518.5 pounds over the course of the challenge.

“Let’s keep it up!” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Amanda Harness, the former non-commissioned officer in charge for morale, welfare and recreation here. “I want us to lose 1,000 pounds by the end of this!”

• Date Taken: 04.15.2011
• Date Posted: 05.12.2011 03:24
• Story ID: 70245
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ