Anchorage Sailors Compete in 1,000 lb. Challenge

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West
Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan Breeden

Date: 12.20.2018
Posted: 12.23.2018 04:59
News ID: 304990

RED SEA, (Dec. 11, 2018) – Sailors and Marines aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) tested their strength during a “1,000-pound challenge,” Dec. 11.

The competitions organized by Quartermaster 2nd Class Tyler Gilbert featured 80 male and 15 female participants. The challenge consisted of three weightlifting exercises: bench press, squat, and dead lift.

The 1,000-pound challenge is a strength test to recognize people who push themselves towards achieving a goal and is a challenge that can be seen at sports gyms, and colleges.

“I created the challenge to boost morale onboard while on deployment,” said Gilbert. “It represents that the participant has put in the hours and hard work to be able to push their bodies to the limit to achieve a goal. Some people life two to three times their body weight which is no easy feat.”

Male participants have to lift 1,000 lbs. between a combination of bench press, squat, and dead lift, with females less than 180 lbs. being required to lift 600 lbs. in a combination of the three variations of strength exercises. Each contestant had three opportunities in each category to test their strength towards an overall score of 1,000 pounds.

Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Matthew Dupont helped organize the challenge and explains how he wanted to motivate Sailors and Marines but also support a healthy lifting habit with all participants.

“The challenge has had an amazing turn out,” said Dupont. “Even if you’re not successful with completing the challenge everyone can walk away with an experience as well as knowledge on how to lift correctly and safely.”

Seaman Lavonta Staggers is the youngest participant in the 1,000 lb. challenge and explains the benefits to competing.

“I use lifting as a way to relieve stress and this challenge just added more incentive to going to the gym,” said Staggers. “It’s also a great way to assess your own strength and in a fostering environment, anything is achievable.”

Anchorage and embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit are a flexible and persistent Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

For information on the Anchorage, visit www.navy.mil/local/LPD23