Marine builds gym during down time in Afghanistan

Photo By Sgt. Ed Galo | A set of dip bars built by Cpl. Frank McDermott sits just outside a tent filled with his homemade gym equipment, July 7, 2012. Mcdermott, of Deleran, N.J., used his hobby of building things to help his hobby of working out. He started building the equipment when he first arrived to Afghanistan in early January.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

07.11.2012

Story by Cpl. Ed Galo 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – It’s a scene out of Mad Max; two-by-fours and pipes nailed together fill a tent as dirt-covered Marines lug around steel plates and cables.

The Spartan structures – a dip bar, bench press, and other gym pieces - are the handiwork of Cpl. Frank McDermott, embark chief, Regimental Combat Team 6.

“Growing up, I didn’t really have a lot of toys,” he said. “So I’d always be with my dad when he would build stuff. My grandfather built his first two houses and my dad built his house.”

McDermott used knowledge he gained from his father to build the gym equipment behind his office.

Although Camp Leatherneck has several gyms with well-kept commercial equipment, McDermott wanted to avoid the long wait times experienced during peak hours.

“I was going to the gym here … and someone is always asking you how many sets you have left and trying to rush you off, he said. “I spend a lot of time out here (at work) so I might as well have something out back.”

McDermott, from Delran, N.J., says he got the idea to build the gym during some down time, but the first challenge was finding material.

“When I first started building it, I didn’t know what I was going to use. I didn’t have a bar or the plate weights,” he said. “I thought I was going to have to make weights out of concrete and coffee cans.”

McDermott eventually found a unit on base that donated extra weights they had.

His first project was a bench press built with power tools he brought and scrap wood around the base.

“Then I had an idea for a pull up bar. Then I put in a spot for doing squats, curls and shrugs,” he said. “Then I found a winch cable and some snatch blocks from the motor pool. I put that all together for a pull down bar.”

McDermott says he’s always liked working out, even before joining the Marine Corps three years ago.

McDermott, from the southern part of New Jersey, jokes that the reason he’s so strong is from all the corn he ate growing up.

Marines who see the gym are usually fascinated by it. “Most people walk back here and just say, ‘Holy smokes!’” McDermott said.

McDermott said about 15 Marines work out at his gym daily.

“Everybody really enjoys it,” he said. “I’m just happy people use it.”

• Date Taken: 07.11.2012
• Date Posted: 07.11.2012 09:23
• Story ID: 91361
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF