U.S. Forces Fitness

Story by Missouri  National Guard Missouri National Guard Public Affairs Office JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – During the months of August and September, the Missouri Army National Guard’s Missouri Fitness Improvement Training Program, or FIT-P, hosted a multi-event fitness challenge. The challenge, which included a variety of categories including running, aerobic exercise, abdominal exercises, pushups, squats and nutrition, drew 1,787 participants from across the Missouri National Guard community, said Missouri State Command Sgt. Maj. Kannon John. “This is tremendous success,” John said. “This level of participation reflects a growing culture of fitness within the Missouri National Guard. I’m proud of all our participants, as well as the team who worked to make sure the program was a success.” The program is part of a concerted effort to focus on fitness as a means of maintaining readiness throughout the Missouri National Guard. Traditional Guardsmen maintain civilian jobs and often

Story by Scott Sturkol Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office Team Fort McCoy sent two teams of runners to the 2018 Army Ten-Miler competition Oct. 7 at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and came away with second- and fourth-place finishes in the Reserve Mixed category. The Army Ten-Miler, conducted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, is a 10-mile race that starts and finishes near the Pentagon and takes runners through the streets of Washington. More than 35,000 runners from all 50 states and 19 countries, registered for the 2019 event, making it the third-largest 10-mile road race in the world, according to organizers. “I love the camaraderie of our team,” said Team Fort McCoy coach Lt. Col. Mark Woommavovah with the 181st Multi-Functional Training Brigade. “We motivated and encouraged each other the entire way. That give us that boost we needed to keep running and do well in this competition.” Of all the runners, Lt. Col. Tony Steinhoff, who will coach the 201

Story by Airman 1st Class Kylee Thomas 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Sweat dripped from their faces, drenching their clothes and weighted vests as they pushed and motivated each other through multiple hours of extensive working out. For explosive ordnance disposal members across the Department of Defense, a grueling workout is how service members from every branch pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. Each year since Sept. 11, 2001, the EOD Memorial Workout is held in honor of the 134 EOD technicians in the Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Air Force who lost their lives in combat. “Once a year, our flight comes together to honor our fallen brethren who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Senior Airman Garret Mosier, 7th Civil Engineering Squadron EOD technician. “The workout is just a small way to remember the struggle they went through by struggling ourselves.” During the two or three hour long workout, the participants were outfitted with approximately 20

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Larkin Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily Being part of the military requires that each and every Sailor, Soldier, Marine, and Airman keep themselves ready for deployment at a moment’s notice.  Maintaining our health is a key aspect of deployability via exercise, nutrition, weight control, tobacco cessation, prevention of alcohol abuse, and health and wellness education.  Navy standards outline requirements for those that do not meet standards and must be enrolled in a Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP), but commands have great latitude in handling the fitness program for those members that meet standards. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily has taken those requirements and ratcheted them up to encourage sailors to strive to be above the minimum standards.  Led by Information Technology Specialist First Class Petty Officer Zachary James, NCTS Sicily maintains a high level of physical readiness thr

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Lieberknecht Navy Medicine Operational Training Center Capt. Michael Kohler was seated in an English class in 1994. His instructor asked the class to complete an unusual yet simple assignment. He had the class think of a remarkable accomplishment that would be fulfilled over the next 20 years. Kohler simply wrote down “to visit every state in the U.S.” In May of 2018, Kohler completed his goal from 1994, but with a twist. “Around this time I had started to pick up running again”, said Kohler. “I thought you know, maybe I should do something even bigger than just going to every state. Maybe I should run a marathon in every state.” Kohler, now executive officer of Navy Medicine Operational Training Center, grew up in Longmont, Colorado just outside of Boulder. His high school was known for its football team and Kohler played both basketball and football. His basketball coach suggested he try out for the school’s cross-country program. He

Story by Airman 1st Class Anne McCready 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs The solid gym doors swung open, spilling the warm, Texas evening light across the Losano Fitness Center carpet. A woman with a lively step marched across the gym lobby down the hallway greeting the people she saw by name. She turned right into a room with mirrors, colorful mood lamps and a light, hardwood floor. A handful of women greeted her as they stretched and warmed up for the class. “Hello, ladies!” she said, plugging her phone into a speaker. A lively beat began to pulse through the room as the Zumba class started. Paloma Felan, a Zumba and spin instructor at Losano Fitness Center at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, is often seen by gym-goers as a fountain of energy and positivity. Felan exudes enthusiasm and a willingness to help others. For those who stop and ask, she does not hesitate to slow down a moment and share her own experience battling a disease that would have taken her life

Story by Lance Cpl. Kelcey Seymour Marine Corps Installations Pacific CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – Ashley Horner held a Camp Valor High Intensity Interval Training session for members of the military community Oct. 16 at Gunner’s Gym on Camp Foster. The HIIT workout was in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and to inspire men and women to feel empowered. “I came out here to do Camp Valor to support domestic violence awareness month,” said Ashley Horner, HIIT trainer and hybrid athlete. “Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate men or women and whenever you train you really find that deeper connection within yourself. I believe that everyone needs to know how self-empowered they can be and to love themselves for who they are.” All members of the Camp Foster community were welcome to the workout. The exercises ranged from buddy burpees to Spiderman planks. The hour-long workout pushed the participants, making them rely on each other for motivation and to help complet

Story by Cristina Piosa Fort Benning Public Affairs Office FORT BENNING, Ga. A team of eight Soldiers, seven male and one female, officers and enlisted, represented the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia, at the annual Army Ten-Miler Oct. 7. As Fort Benning celebrates its Centennial, the running team also celebrated first place in the active duty mixed team category. More than 30,000 people crowded the streets of the Pentagon at the Washington D.C. race, making it the second largest ten-mile race in the United States. This year the course was new: ten miles through the capital’s historic landmarks with the start and finish line at the Pentagon. 2nd Lt. Aaqib Syed, an Infantry Basic Office Course (IBOLC) student, crossed the finish line placing 23rd overall with a time of 54:41, which he said is 10 seconds off his personal best time. Shortly after Syed’s finish, came teammate Capt. Colin Johnson who finished with a time of 55:42, and placed 32nd overall.

Story by Kaitlin Kelly Marine Corps Systems Command After finishing his second Boston Marathon five years ago, Maj. Ken Parisi, a logistics specialist at Marine Corps Systems Command, wanted to tackle a new challenge – triathlons.   He has completed four full-distance 140.6-mile races and 10 half-distance 70.3-mile races. He said this passion for triathlons gave him confidence and made him a better Marine. “I realized I got myself into something pretty big, so I did what all Marines would do—I made a plan, hired a coach, bought a bike, and then just actively and aggressively pursued my training plan until I crossed each finish line,” Parisi said. This fall, he participated in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, placing in the top 25 percent of 4,500 competitors. The race included a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run.  It was Parisi’s first World Championship race, and he had to overcome a few obstacl

By Wendy Brown Fort Bliss Garrison Public Affairs Each year, retired Chief Warrant Officer 3 Tommy Mills of El Paso asks himself how the organizers of the competition in his son’s name could possibly do better, but each year, they find a way. This year was no exception for the Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills Commando Competition, with the largest number of teams ever participating in the fifth annual competition that honors our nation’s fallen. The competition is named after an El Paso native and Green Beret who was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, when he died Sept. 16, 2009, after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. “To say that we are honored and we appreciate what you do for our fallen, with our son’s name on it, I can’t thank you any more,” said Tommy Mills, as he spoke at the competition’s closing ceremony at 1st Lt. Paul A. Noel Parade Field at Fort Bliss Saturday. Other family members in attendance included Joshua’s mother

Story by Courtney Dock U.S. Army Medical Command The temperature was perfect, and the crowds were energized for the 34th Annual Army Ten Miler, Oct. 7, 2018. The 35,000 registered racers were full of excitement as the Presidential Salute Battery cannons jolted the runners to their start. This annual race sees runners from all over the U.S. and internationally and focuses on overall total health and fitness. “It’s a great demonstration of Army’s commitment to physical fitness,” said Secretary of the Army Dr. Mark T. Esper. “It’s a recognition and reminder of all the Soldiers serving around the world to preserve our freedom.” Before the race started, Army Medicine Best Warrior, Sgt. Joshua Meyer, Medical Research and Materiel Command, talked about his goals for finishing the race. “I’m excited. I’m going to do my absolute best and hope to do a sub-70 [minute finish time],” said Meyer. He was one of two Soldiers representing Army Medicine at this year’s Army Best Warrior c

Story by Audrey Jensen 21st Space Wing Public Affairs For 24 hours, the black and white prisoner of war/missing in action flag was carried around the Fitness Center track at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, Sept. 20-21, 2018. As part of the 2018 POW/MIA Remembrance Week of events at Peterson AFB, the 24-hour Remembrance Run was put together to honor service members who are POW or MIA. “There are over 82,000 service members still missing today that we’ll be running to honor and remember their sacrifice,” said Capt. Megan Maxwell, one of the 24-hour run organizers. “The 21st Space Wing has volunteers from all units scheduled to keep the POW/MIA flag moving over the next 24 hours.” Col. Sam Johnson, 21st Space Wing vice commander, Chief Master Sgt. Rudy Gamez, 21st Operations Group superintendent, and Tech. Sgt. Jairus McCain, 302nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, kicked off the run by carrying the flag as they started their laps. “We’re honoring the POWs/MIAs, the families tha

Story by Capt. Ed Robles 1st Brigade Combat Team,10th Mountain Division (LI) FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Oct 8, 2018) -- Four 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Soldiers represented the “Mountain Warriors” in the Army Ten-Miler with their Fort Drum teammates in the Washington, D.C classic, Sunday.  The humid day fueled competitive grit in these infantry brigade Soldiers who are known for their “Find a Way or Make One” motto and “Ready Now” spirit. After the run, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley, who is a former 10th MTN DIV and Fort Drum Commanding General, invited the Fort Drum team to his home and celebrated the occasion. “I had a great time and I’m very happy I had the opportunity to run in Washington, D.C.,” said Capt. Le Mar Baliwag, Support Operations Officer, 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1BCT. “General Milley gave us a grand tour and that was really awesome.” Each of the runners drew their inspiration, motivation and drive from a different source. “At 1s

Story by Airman 1st Class Monica Roybal 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs He paces backstage as he anxiously awaits for his number to be called. The overwhelming smell of self-tanner is a brief, but welcomed distraction. They can’t be seen, but they are definitely heard. Friends cheering from the crowd shift that unsure feeling into a prideful smile. It’s not so bad. All that’s left to do is flex. U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Donald Beaufort, 633rd Force Support Squadron fitness journeyman, returned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis after his deployment with renewed inspiration for physical fitness, but also a desire to motivate others to work toward their best selves. “Deploying was a good experience, but there were a lot of bad times,” Beaufort said. “I was stressed and couldn’t deal with work so, I would go to the gym to vent and blow off steam. That’s where I found my calm.” As the gym became a part of the Jamaica native’s daily routine, familiar faces turned into wor

Story by Michael Strasser Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs FORT DRUM, N.Y. - Eighteen Soldiers from across the 10th Mountain Division (LI) earned their spots on this year’s Fort Drum Ten-Miler Team and, having logged in several weeks of training, are ready to represent at the 34th Army Ten-Miler, Oct. 7, in Washington, D.C. “We have had just over a month of official practices, but in that short time we’ve built a great team atmosphere,” said 1st Lt. Sean Nestor, team coach and officer in charge. “It’s great to see them all build such a strong sense of camaraderie and push one another to improve.” Team members have been meeting during PT hours during the week and on Sundays. Nestor said that he modeled the training plan largely after what his coach implemented at George Mason University. A typical week included two fast-paced, interval-styled workouts to accustom team members to running at a Ten-Miler race pace or faster. Team members were introduced to the “Michigan” – a

Story by Lance Cpl. Kevan Dunlop III MEF Information Group The MAI Course is a three week program that trains Marines to be Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructors. MCMAP is a integral part of the Marine Corps, as it strengthens combat readiness and promotes physical fitness, thus allowing the Marine Corps to more easily complete any mission or challenge set before it. Marines from all across Okinawa have been training to earn a tan tab for their belt, signifying that they are MCMAP instructors. Marines who went through the course endured rigorous physical training and were required to be proficient in all MCMAP skills up to their belt level. Sgt. Duane Levy Jr, an electrician with III Marine Expeditionary Force Support Battalion, III MEF Information Group, set up the culminating event to evaluate the Marines and determine if they were ready to become MCMAP instructors. “Even though this [physical training] sucks, [you’re] out here getting slayed, your body’s hurting a