Balad, Iraq gets tactically fit

Courtesy Photo | (Pfc. Derek Mossman, warehouse manager with the 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a New York City, N.Y., native, pushes out a chest dip during tactical physical training Sept. 7 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.(By Sgt. Lowers)  

IRAQ

09.07.2010

Story by Spc. Gaelen Lowers 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq— A new type of physical training is becoming more popular to the service members at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. It’s called tactical physical training, and it’s become so popular that the instructors have to turn people away.

“Some people come not knowing what it is all about,” said Sgt. Jason Emmele, administrative assistant with the 13th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a New Braunfels, Texas, native, who is also the lead instructor for tactical PT. “By halfway through, they are sneaking off, but that’s okay because…it will give others a shot next time.”

Tactical PT includes muscular strength and endurance, along with a full body cardiovascular workout. Participants typically go through more than 50 stations, rotating every 30 to 40 seconds with one participant per station, said Emmele.

“You’re hitting all the muscles from top to bottom,” he said. “You’re hitting a lot of muscles that you’re not used to hitting. If you’re really into it, you can burn up to 20 calories a minute. It also really works your cardiovascular endurance, too.”

The program was started by the 109th Quartermaster Company out of Fort Campbell, Ky., back in October, said Sgt. 1st Class John Gonzalez, first sergeant of the 602nd Forward Support Company, and a Lyons, Kan., native. The program was then picked up by Gonzalez and his Soldiers, and then eventually passed on to Emmele and the 13th CSSB.

“When we first started, the program was set up for around 30 people,” said Gonzalez. “We just added more exercises and topped off around 36 [people].”

Now, more than 50 people can participate without the training losing any of its intensity, said Emmele.

“It’s challenging for everyone,” said Sgt. Carlos Vega, human resources non-commissioned officer with the 3rd Sustainment Bde., and a Guayama, Puerto Rico native, who is a tactical PT regular. “You can be a PT stud or someone overweight and still get a great workout out of it.”

Gonzalez added that the program is not something that people see or get to experience every day.
“This is elite tactical fitness training,” he said. “It’s a different kind of workout. It works your core, your agility and your muscular strength and endurance. What you put into it, that’s what you’ll get out of it.”

Vega said that his section participates multiple times a week and, besides a great workout, it is a good teambuilding program.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s all in what you make of it,” he said. “If you put in 110 percent, then that’s what you will get out of it, but if you go in there with a bad attitude, then you are going to come out broken. I would recommend it to anyone that wants to get back in shape.”

• Date Taken: 09.07.2010
• Date Posted: 09.12.2010 08:08
• Story ID: 56128
• Location: IQ