Photo By Capt. Isra Pananon | Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Schermerhorn, theater operations retention NCO with Army...... read more read more
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – From the outside, Camp Arifjan’s combined arms collective training facility (CACTF) appears to be another warehouse – a large, tan building with no windows. On the inside, soldiers and patrons will find various fitness classes happening simultaneously in addition to the daunting set of pull up racks, Olympic weightlifting platforms, stacks of weights and kettlebells stationed in the gym. More important than the equipment available to soldiers is the all-volunteer force that makes up the CrossFit Arifjan coaching staff.
Although soldiers rotate through Kuwait for nine and 12-month tours, there is never a lack of dedicated coaches at Camp Arifjan’s military CrossFit affiliate.
“Before I deployed, I heard there was a CrossFit gym at Camp Arifjan from a friend. I was able to find the Facebook page online, and visited the box as soon as I hit ground,” said 1st Lt. Lindsey Elieff, CrossFit level one and weightlifting trainer and executive officer for the 840th Transportation Battalion Kuwait Naval Base Detachment.
Elieff shortly began instructing classes and volunteers on average 10 to 12 hours per week outside of her military duties. She is one out of six volunteers; at times there have been a total of 15 volunteers at the gym. These volunteers dedicate many man hours because of the uniqueness of the CrossFit Arifjan community.
The community is composed of active component, National Guard, and reserve soldiers from all branches and services. Athletes range in age, ethnicity, and athletic backgrounds.
“We go by first names, or nicknames; there’s no rank inside the box. It’s a close-knit family in there; we’ve gotten to know one another well, and it offers the chance to interact and make friends with people we may not normally have the opportunity to during our typical duty day,” says Elieff.
Recently, the group held a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness entitled, “Barbells for Boobs.” This is one out of many charity events held throughout the year, in addition to providing professional development opportunities for soldiers. CrossFit Arifjan offered the CrossFit Level One Trainer Course for all interested military personnel and civilians Oct. 25.
“It’s really important to bring these opportunities overseas to soldiers. It provides a different kind of professional development – it allows all soldiers regardless of rank and military occupation to be more involved in a sport and community for soldiers, by soldiers” remarked Sgt. 1st Class Valerie Schermerhorn, theater operations retention noncommissioned officer with Army Reserve Affairs.
Candidates attended two full days of lectures, instruction, and exercises focused on CrossFit methodology and concepts. At the end of the course, the 16 attendees completed a test and will earn a certificate upon passage.
“This weekend enforces the fact that we, as soldiers and leaders, want to excel in all aspects of our lives – career, work, and family. Becoming a CrossFit trainer and learning the methodology is another way to further develop ourselves, and relieve the stress that deployments cause over time, said Schermerhorn.
According to many of Camp Arifjan’s athletes, the gym offers much more than a workout; provides community, personal growth, and a place to relieve stress away from their daily posts. For the volunteer trainers, the fulfillment derives from helping soldier athletes achieve their personal goals by increasing their level of fitness and experiencing a new comfort level with CrossFit movements.
Elieff became a trainer for this reason.
“I absolutely love seeing an athlete’s face after they’ve just defeated a WOD or reached a goal they’ve set when they didn’t think they could – it’s priceless. Getting to be a part of a total life change; to see progress from shaky and nervous to strong and confident in pursuit of fitness… it just doesn’t get better than that.”
CrossFit Arifjan is a CrossFit military affiliate and is located in the combined arms collective training facility (CACTF) in Zone 6. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/CrossFitAJ.
| Date Taken: | 10.27.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.27.2014 07:25 |
| Story ID: | 146131 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Hometown: | MIAMI, FL, US |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Hometown: | WESTCHESTER, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 848 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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