U.S. Forces Fitness

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Amanda Kitchner Naval Service Training Command CHAPEL HILL, N. C. (NNS) -- The University of North Carolina Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit hosted a physical training and injury prevention lab for Marine-option midshipmen preparing for Officer Candidate School (OCS), Feb. 21. The lab was organized by midshipmen assigned to the unit to focus on preparation for the demanding physical fitness training that is conducted at OCS, with a primary goal of learning injury prevention skills. “The intent of today’s training is to aid and educate our midshipmen in the best ways they can improve and maximize their fitness level prior to arriving at OCS,” said Maj. Barry J. Morris, Marine Office Instructor (MOI) for the North Carolina Piedmont Region Consortium NROTC Unit.  “The end state is that our midshipmen are well prepared to be fairly screened and evaluated in a controlled and challenging environment at OCS. As an MOI, I work with m

Story by Seaman Zachary Behrend USS Boxer (LHD 4) PACIFIC OCEAN – Passion. Dedication. Resilience. These characteristics are embodied by practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a form of martial arts dedicated to grappling and designed to equip a physically smaller or weaker individual with an effective method of defending against a larger and stronger attacker. Brazilian jiu-jitsu encourages a healthy lifestyle, builds resiliency and instills camaraderie among peers. For Lt. Aaron Mitchem, the security officer aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), his passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu began seven and a half years ago with his daughter while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Dana Mitchem, his daughter, played basketball, baseball and flag football growing up and her father would coach her. These were all sports that he played growing up, so it was easier for him to give pointers and connect with her. His daughter started training in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the a

U.S. Armed Forces Sports Courtesy Story Now that the U.S. Army has extended its winning streak at the Armed Forces Championships to 18 straight years with their freestyle title on Sunday, you might think that this has become routine and maybe even taken for granted. That, however, is not even close to the truth. After the 10 matches were over, the scoreboard read: Army 33, Marine Corps 9. To win this year, with a talented and motivated Marine Corps team across from them on the mat, it required the Army team to have its best effort to keep the streak alive. Army started off with confidence, as SSG Max Nowry defeated Sgt Christian Martin, 7-4 at 57 kg, and SPC Leslie Fuenffinger pinned 1stLt Colton Rasche in 4:35 at 61 kg. Nowry, who was a three-style star in high school from Illinois, opened the dual with a solid victory. Fuenffinger, who was a two-time Div. III national champion for Augsburg before joining the Army, fired up the Army sideline with the pin. The 65 kg match

Courtesy Story GARY ABBOTT BY GARY ABBOTT, USA WRESTLING -- As expected, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps earned the right to battle for the Greco-Roman team title at the Armed Forces Championships. Both teams had won every single match of their first two dual meets, setting up a showdown for the title. Although Army had a 17-year winning streak at this event, the Marines have developed a number of talented Greco-Roman athletes and were aiming to bring the team title back with them this time around. Fueled by a strong start in the lightweights, who won the first four matches all with bonus point victories, the Army claimed seven of the 10 matches to win 32-10, and stretched that streak of excellence to 18 years. SSG Max Nowry, a double champion at the 2018 Armed Forces, came out with a strong 8-0 technical fall at 55 kg over Sgt. Jamone Carter. He was followed by 2017 World Team member Ildar Hafizov, who got the Army team fired up with a pin over LCpl. German Diaz in

Story by Pfc. Megan Martinez 25th Infantry Division As the 35th annual Great Aloha Run commenced, president and co-founder Carol Kai Onouye reminisced the beginnings of the Sounds of Freedom, a division within the GAR showcasing service men and women from all over the island of Oahu.   “My entire family was in the military, so that’s why when we started the Sounds of Freedom division…it was a very special time, and we’ve been going ever since,” said Onouye. The Sounds of Freedom and the Great Aloha Run is a partnership that has mirrored the community's partnership with the U.S. Army in Hawaii. “The Army and the 25th Infantry Division have a long and very positive history as part of the community in the great state of Hawaii,” said Maj. Gen. Ron Clark, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division and U.S. Army-Hawaii, headquartered at Schofield Barracks. “As Soldiers inheriting that legacy, we are proud to represent the Army alongside our great neighbors at commun

Story by Laurie Pearson Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow Michelle Lawing, Installation Sexual Assault Response coordinator for Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, is not only winning powerlifting competitions, but she is breaking world records in the process during competitions throughout 2017 and 2018. “It’s amazing!” the athlete said of her recent accomplishments. “I never thought I’d break any records. I was just trying to increase my numbers (weights and repetitions) for myself, but that’s where a good coach comes in. Jim looks up the records and plans meets for me according to what goals we have set.” The Jim she is referring to is Jim Seifert, engineering technician at Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command with 12 years of civil service. Before that he served 24 years active duty with the U.S. Marines, retiring as a Master Sergeant as a Data Communications chief. “I’m also a Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist through an organiz

By Sgt. ASHLEY M. MORRIS 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn Div FORT POLK, La. — Forty-two Soldiers from across the installation reported to Honor Field for the first day of the course to begin initial assessments Feb. 5. The Pre-Ranger Course is a prerequiste for those that want to attend Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. A mobile training team from 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, is visiting Fort Polk to teach the course . The first assessment of the day was the PRC physical fitness test, which included push ups, sit ups, a 5-mile run and pull ups. Then the physical and mental resolve of the remaining 26 Soldiers were tested as they continued to the next challenge — a comprehensive swim assessment. The Soldiers were instructed to complete a series of exercises in between events during the swim assessment. The exercises were meant to push the Soldiers, mentally and physically, to see how they perform under pressure. “Every day down at the line and in the units, these Sol

by Tech. Sgt. Mark Thompson 118th Wing, Public Affairs, Tennessee Air National Guard Early in his military career, Tech. Sgt. Brandon realized that he excelled physically where many struggled. A member of the 118th Wing since 2009, Brandon started his military career in the Marine Corps.  Admittedly not having any exposure to sports while growing up, he was surprised to discover he was a natural-born athlete. “I noticed I was excelling in things that were both physical and mental and just kept pushing until I found myself at the top of the leader board,” said Brandon.  “I felt that if I’m going to do this, I want to be the best at it so I kept digging.” During his six years in the Marine Corps, he was hand-picked for numerous “high-speed missions” with elite U.S. armed forces units and was deployed throughout the Middle East.  But despite his love of this high-tempo work, Brandon felt the strain of multiple deployments on his personal life.  “I wanted to be a father more

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam Ferrero USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) Working out, counting carbs, increasing weekly cardio, portion control, and healthy sleep are just a few things Sailors can do to improve their personal fitness. Achieving a healthy and active lifestyle can sometimes be difficult, especially for a Sailor in the shipyard instead of out at sea, but for Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), a new fitness opportunity is available. George Washington Sailors began participating in the Deep Six challenge, a healthy body mass index (BMI) challenge with the goal of starting Sailors on a new, healthier lifestyle. “For six weeks, Sailors will compete to see who can lose the most body weight and fat,” said Lio Nieto, George Washington’s afloat fitness specialist (Fit Boss). “The top three females and males will receive prizes based on how many points they achieve. Points are awarded based on weight lost, body fat lost, a

Story by Airman 1st Class Monica Roybal 633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs The 633rd Air Base Wing launched an initiative aimed at improving squadron fitness at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 1, 2019. Members from various Langley Air Force Base squadrons gathered to create an incentive program that encourages Airmen to leave their comfort zones, participate in diverse fitness challenges and compete to be named the fittest squadron. “We realize fitness is different for everybody,” said Tony Arroyo, 633rd Force Support Squadron fitness director. “We want to provide opportunities for people to participate and compete in different fitness-related activities to improve quality-of-life and improve readiness.” The lead coordinator, U.S. Air Force Col. Derek Larbie, 633rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, explained the initiative’s focus will allow squadrons to set high standards for their units, while also improving their members’ individual fitness. “This initia

Story by Capt. Jerry Duong 184th Sustainment Command Sgt. Ryan Gossilen and Spc. Austin Bradford of the 300th Sustainment Brigade were selected to compete in a combatives tournament between the United States Army and the Kuwaiti Army at the Kuwait Interior Ministry of Interior on January 22, 2019. “What went on that day was the Kuwaitis hosted a duel against the U.S. forces from Camp Arifjan,” said Gossilen. “We had five weight classes and five competitors at each weight class.” Combatives is the U.S. Army’s version of jujitsu or Brazilian jujitsu, which is a martial art and combat sport system that focuses on grappling with particular emphasis on ground fighting. “I was very excited for the event, it took me back to when I wrestled in high school and gave me those pre-match jitters I missed,” said Bradford, who has been wrestling since he was 12 or 13 years old, as well as practicing jiujitsu until he turned 18 and joined the U.S. Army. “I wrestled for about nine years i

Story by Jesenia Landaverde 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Animated fighter jets roar across the sky as Duke, the G.I. Joe Team first sergeant, and his band of highly-trained special mission operatives fight for freedom against the Cobra organization, their arch-enemy. The theme song, “A Real American Hero,” starts to play through the television set, inspiring five-year-old Jarad Underwood. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Underwood, 22nd Training Squadron Advanced Skills Training NCO in charge, is the first and only person in the Department of Defense who is eligible to teach combatives to all servicemembers, despite their military affiliation. Underwood began his military service in the Marine Corps as an infantryman in 2002, where he received his introduction to combatives by participating in the Marine Corps Martial Arts program. “I started combatives in the MCMA program and I was able to earn my green belt before I separated in 2006,” said Underwood. “I continued to trai

Story by Senior Airman Denise Jenson 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs Each Airman is responsible for maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to stay fit to fight; however, developing a routine workout schedule and eating right can be difficult. This is where Geri Seal, the health promotion program manager assigned to the 28th Medical Operations Squadron, comes in. “Air Force Health Promotion is the art and science of making healthy behavior the obvious choice through education, the available choice through policy, and the popular choice through marketing and community engagement,” Seal said. “I utilize this mission statement in the areas of nutrition, fitness, sleep, tobacco and community involvement.” Seal said her work typically includes a general health briefing with new Airmen going through the First Term Airmen Center, Right Start, noncommissioned and senior noncommissioned officer professional enhancement courses and more specific briefs that a squadron can request. Sh

Story by Eric Pilgrim Fort Knox FORT KNOX, Kentucky – Soldiers from 19th Engineer Battalion braved sub-freezing temperatures Jan. 29-31 to participate in training sessions sponsored by the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training that are designed to help Army leaders evaluate and improve the new Army Combat Fitness Test. Army Reserve trainers gathered early Jan. 29 at Flipper Field behind Natcher Physical Fitness Center to run about 20 Soldiers from 19th through the six-event test. After a short block of instruction by the trainers, many Soldiers whooped and hollered as others tackled the obstacles. “The testing piece is relatively intuitive, and our Soldiers picked up on that very quickly,” said Capt. Kyle Maxwell, an assistant S3 plans officer at 19th ENG Battalion. “I don’t think there’s going to be too much headache as far as implementation of this new style of physical fitness assessment.” The battalion is one of 63 active duty units across the Army participatin

Story by Airman 1st Class Victoria Boyton 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs The 4th Force Support Squadron, nicknamed the “4th Fun Squad-ron,” has taken major steps to improve the fitness culture at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to help enhance the Air Force’s “Fit to Fight” standards.  Improvements to the gym include expanding 24-hour access to all areas of the fitness center, installing new equipment, and subsidizing the Unit Physical Training Facilities located at various flight shops around the base. “The need for this new equipment was identified by our fitness center manager, Mr. Shango Sheffield, and his team of fitness professionals a few months ago,” said Lt. Col. Kristina Rennie, 4th FSS commander. “The new equipment was valued at $138,000 and was fully funded by the Air Force Activity Services.” More than 800 customers use the fitness center on a daily basis. The first batch of new equipment was installed at the fitness facility Jan. 30. It included 19 treadmills, fi