Photo By Staff Sgt. Gin-Sophie De Bellotte | Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, gets briefed about the Combat...... read more read more
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All American Week is deep in tradition for past and present Paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division. In the four days leading up to Memorial Day weekend, Fort Bragg becomes the home to visiting veterans, regimental rivalries and a celebration of all things Airborne.
Paratroopers of the 82nd Abn. Div. competed in a two-day Combat Fitness Test during All American Week on Pike Field, Fort Bragg, N.C., May 2018.
The test consisted of a half-mile timed run, overhead press with 30-pound ammunition cans for two minutes, and an obstacle course that included a high-crawl, several sprints, buddy drag, fireman carry, grenade-throw, push-ups and ammunition can carry with two 30-pound cans.
“I’m not much of a soccer guy, football or team sports person I would say,” said Spc. Tahj Corne, a team leader assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. “I was more so drawn to this event because of curiosity of what the events were going to be.”
Each competitor received little to no time in between events, ensuring that they could not catch their breath.
“That last event movement to contact obstacle course you’re doing a lot,” said Corne. “The bobbing and weaving breaks your speed so you’re slowing down and speeding back up engaging your legs and that was pretty challenging.”
Paratroopers, who registered for the event as part of a battalion team, were graded based on their half-mile time, ammo-can raise repetitions and their time on the obstacle course. The Combat Fitness Test takes a different kind of skill, determination and resiliency.
“I like this competition,” said event coordinator Capt. Sabastian Conour, a 2nd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. Paratrooper. “It gives everybody a chance to do PT and a kind of PT they wouldn’t normally do.”
Being a Paratrooper in the 82nd Abn. Div., challenges your mental and physical state to various breaking points to see what you’re made of and to display your capabilities.
Especially in this event a competitor might be strong, but you also have to have endurance and stamina to make it through the events.
“What makes this event different is that it encompasses all of these combat-oriented tasks,” said Capt. Conour. “What it’s supposed to simulate is when someone’s in combat they might have to throw a grenade, carry their buddy or low crawl, so this is really showing them do you have what it takes to survive in combat and make sure your buddy survives as well.”
Competing in the Combat Fitness Test for the first time is Staff Sgt. Lum, a platoon sergeant in Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. Lum said he was drawn to the event by how closely related it is to a combat environment.
“I already plan on implementing stuff like this in my physical training session,” said Lum.
All American Week brings not only the opportunity to part take in competitions and sports, but it brings back cheerful memories for our veterans and creates new ones for our Paratroopers today.
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.24.2018 19:19 |
| Story ID: | 278406 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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