CJTF-HOA personnel, French compete in Slim Cat challenge

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Regina L. Brown | A member of the French army, left, and an Airman in the U.S. Air Force participate in the rope climb portion of the third annual Slim Cat challenge held at the 5th French Foreign Legion base, Dec. 9. Of the 15 finishers, 5 were service members based out of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.  

12.12.2007

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Regina L. Brown 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Regina L. Brown
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI – Nearly 50 French and U.S. personnel gathered at the 5th French Foreign Legion Base to compete in a fitness competition in Djibouti, Dec. 9.

The third annual Slim Cat competition gave 15 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and a Department of Defense civilian assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa an opportunity to compete against 27 service members from the 5th French Oversea Infantry Regiment.

Of the 15 competitors representing CJTF-HOA, five completed the entire course of events which included 50 pull-ups, climbing a rope six times using arm strength only, 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, a 400-meter run while holding 30 kg in dumbbells, and ended with 10 repetitions of 60 kg on the bench press. All events had to be completed within 35 minutes.

Army Sgt. Maj. Melchor Hennegan, training department non-commissioned officer in charge at CJTF-HOA, coordinated the entire event and helped inform the competitors what they would be going up against.

"I wanted to prepare everyone as much as they could be by taking pictures and showing them the exact pieces of equipment they would be using," said Hennegan. "Not having the equipment to train on added to the challenge the CJTF-HOA competitors faced."

Despite not having the exact equipment to train on, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeremy Hawks, country plans officer for Djibouti, placed second overall and first for the participants from CJTF-HOA. Hawks found the most difficult part of the challenge to be keeping up the intensity through all six events.

"After I completed the pull-ups and rope climb, my heart rate was very elevated," said Hawks. "Forcing myself to hit the push-ups hard and fast took a lot of focus. Luckily, I had a great support crew who cheered me on and motivated me to keep up the pace."

Army Capt. Safiya Ingram, Special Operations Command and Control Element judge advocate general, was the only female to compete in the challenge. She has been deployed to CJTF-HOA for a year and enjoyed changing up her usual physical activity to include exercises that would prepare her for the competition.

"I've been practicing on the rope climb, it's hard, and a lot of technique is required and when I got up there on the rope, it was just instinct; I wanted to get to the top," said Ingram. "I wasn't intimidated by the fact I was competing with all males. I thought, at least I'll give the others some competition and something to think about. Seeing even the French guys cheer me on was great."

The intensity of the exercises required a high level of physical fitness. Training beforehand certainly raised the chance of a competitor not only finishing the race, but placing in one of the coveted top three spots.

"I was impressed with the fitness level of the fellow competitors," said Hawks. "Obviously people had been training for this event, but the military life-style of both the French and U.S. forces really lends itself to being fit."

The night ended with the judges giving out specially made t-shirts to the 15 finishers, and all posed for a group photo.

According to Hennegan events like these, where we interact with our French coalition brothers, are important because they strengthen the relationship between us.

"Recreational activities like Slim Cat are particularly fun since it's a less formal and very spirited venue," said Hawks. "The camaraderie shared by all was great. That, on top of the really upbeat attitude and sense of fun present at Slim Cat, really made this a worthwhile event."

• Date Taken: 12.12.2007
• Date Posted: 12.14.2007 07:47
• Story ID: 14693