Photo By Sgt. Linsay Burnett | Soldiers and Airmen work out, molding their bodies into Da Vincian physique.... read more read more
The clank of metal on metal reverberates inside a small wooden building. Wall-mounted air conditioners blow just enough to push the stale, sweat filled air from one end to the other. The air, partnered with muted florescent lighting, creates a dungeon-like atmosphere. This facility, that could just as easily be located in a prison ward, serves as the gym for the Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stationed at Forward Operating Base McHenry, near Hawija, Iraq. Despite the cramped quarters and secondhand equipment, these Soldiers and Airmen work out, molding their bodies into Da Vincian physique.
A recent bench press contest, held at nearby FOB Warrior, showed that state-of-the-art equipment is not necessary for success. A handful of Soldiers from FOB McHenry flew up to Warrior to participate in the event. While the Soldiers and Airmen stationed at Warrior have access to three fully equipped fitness centers, Bulldog Soldiers walked away with first, second, third and fifth place.
The first place winner was 1st Lt. Robert Freeman, the executive officer for the Forward Support Company, 1st Bn., 327th Inf. Regt. Always an athlete, Freeman became a serious bodybuilder after joining the Army seven years ago. Though quiet in demeanor and shorter than most, he has meticulously crafted his body, forcing the sleeves on his t-shirt to stretch around his arms. This deployment to Iraq has further solidified his commitment to physical fitness. Regardless of work schedules, he lifts for about an hour and a half every day and runs three days a week.
Freeman isn't the only one on the FOB committed to self-improvement. During his workouts in the McHenry gym he began noticing recurring faces; some, experienced weightlifters, others, novices eager to learn and quick to catch on. The steadfast discipline exhibited by these Soldiers and Airmen prompted him to write a letter to FLEX Magazine, requesting that they publish a photo and biography of some of McHenry's heaviest hitters. The magazine eagerly responded and Freeman gathered 13 Soldiers and Airmen to pose for photos to be used in the magazine. The photo is scheduled to be published within the next three months (FLEX is a monthly publication), providing a little validation and exposure for the work these Soldiers and Airmen have been doing.
Constrained by schedules that rarely allow for days off, Soldiers and Airmen still find time to work out. "Regardless of missions, these guys always manage to find time to go to the gym, even if it's at 3:00 a.m. after just completing an eight hour mission," delights Freeman in a gentle voice.
There are no physical trainers. The Soldiers and Airmen construct their workout programs by talking to one another and reading fitness magazines. With no MWR facilities located on the FOB, the gym is one of the few stress relievers available to FOB residents. "Physical fitness is vital for Soldiers. It not only prepares them physically for a mission, but also gives them a break, emotionally, from these missions," Freeman explains.
Cpt. Clint Olearnick, the Bn. Battle Captain with Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 1-327th Inf. Regt., also participated in the photo shoot. Tall in stature, with broad square shoulders accented by full-sized tattoos, a smoothly shaved head and deep voice, Cpt. Olearnick is a commanding presence. A rugby player in college, Olearnick took up lifting when he joined the Army about four years ago. As a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom I, he approaches this deployment much like the last. "You can do a mission and come back and do nothing else. Or you can take that time to develop physically and mentally; not just sit idly by."
The equipment may be a little dusty and the atmosphere dank, but Olearnick asserts they have everything they need. "The environment makes you want to excel. It's just you against the weights. There's nothing high-tech. You make due with what you have." Sometimes this means getting a little creative.
When Soldiers wanted a lateral pull-down machine they took pieces of cord, strung them over a pull-up, then tied a handle to the cord. They turned to the welding shop to help create other pieces of equipment, and have found new and creative uses for existing equipment. No machine for standing calf-raises? A set of dumbbells will suffice. "It makes me really proud of all the guys who hang with it, make time for it," commends Olearnick. "When they come off an eight hour patrol they could just relax and play video games, but instead they go to the gym."
While separation from family and a lack of creature comforts can be difficult, the time in Iraq provides an environment in which Soldiers and Airmen can focus on their fitness with few distractions. This discipline and dedication will hopefully continue once they return home, contributing to their overall health and well-being. Physical fitness is free and the payoffs are priceless.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2006 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 6671 |
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| Web Views: | 217 |
| Downloads: | 42 |
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