Photo By Staff Sgt. Edward Siguenza | On the final day of annual training for the 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th...... read more read more
CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.—The winners of the 185th Military Police Battalion's Obstacle Course Challenge July 21 wasn't necessarily the strongest or fastest. But they were the gutsiest with lots of support.
The "fearless foursome" of the 270th Military Police Company earned the overall title in a morale-charged competition backed by hundreds of 185th soldiers. The 270th's Cpl. Richard Mair and Pvts. Kathy Phan, Connie Moore and Aaron Carruth combined to post the fastest time, laying claim (for now) that the 270th is the physically-fit unit amongst the 185th's five companies.
Mair, Phan, Moore and Carruth completed the challenge in 12 minutes. They ended five seconds ahead of representatives from the 670th MP Company.
"I think the sprint back at the end, that was the toughest," said Mair. "You got to do a lot of different obstacles. Those get you tired and you still got to run back to the finish line."
Each competitor drew rounds of support from other company members who stood on the sideline viewing the action.
Command Sgt. Maj. James Coltrell, 185th command sergeant major, and Sgt. Maj. Abraham Hinojosa, 185th operations sergeant major, organized the challenge to unite about 500 Soldiers performing annual training. Each company sent representatives to compete. The 40th MP Company finished third and the 185th's Headquarters-Headquarters Detachment was fourth.
"It's team-building morale. It's a way of getting the battalion together," said Coltrell, noting he organized the same competition two years ago. "The main thing is to have fun. It's the end of annual training after lots of hard work."
Competitors had to complete 12 obstacles including log climbs, rope climbing, log balance, wall climb, low crawl and a house frame climb. Twenty seconds were added for not completing an obstacle. The fastest combined time determined the winner.
Soldiers continued the day competing in a sport that combines football and ultimate Frisbee. Again, it was company versus company, with teams competing in three fields. The game's objective was to get a football into an end zone without running or tackling.
But Coltrell and Hinojosa added a twist. They created a "penalty box," where soldiers were ejected from playing for various reasons. For example, referees whistled fouls for missing catches, lousy throws, standing still and other irregularities.
In the penalty area, soldiers did pushups and sit-ups, lunges and other exercises. Once done, they were sent back to the game.
The day continued with a battalion barbecue. Hundreds were treated to a family feast at no cost.
"Again, it's all for morale," Cotrell explained. "I saw a lot of motivation out here. It's just a good way to end several days of hard annual training."
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2011 17:49 |
| Story ID: | 75211 |
| Location: | CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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