Photo By Sgt. Nathan Booth | Sgt. Jeff Keisacker, assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment,...... read more read more
FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, Afghanistan - As if dodging bullets, improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades wasn't enough to stay in shape, Sgt. Jeff Keisacker, Senior Line Medic from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, and his team make use of the gym on FOB RAMROD five to six times a week to stay fit.
"It's part of our job to stay in shape. We have to be able to haul, carry and lift anyone," he said outside of the facility, "plus, nobody likes a fat medic."
Fitness is about more than just a good score on the Army Physical Fitness Test according to Spc. Robert McNicholl, assigned to A Co., 2nd Bat., 1st Inf. Reg.
"Yeah," agreed Pfc. Michael ReCasino, also assigned to A Co., 2nd Bat., 1st Inf. Reg. "Not to mention you get to live longer."
The open-air Ramrod Gym offers weight-lifting benches, free weights, elliptical machines, stationary bikes and treadmills to soldiers looking to lengthen their lives.
"It's not like you have to be here forever," said Keisacker.
"You can get a workout that uses all of your muscles, and air, in three to five minutes," ReCasino added.
Keisacker has extra motivation to stay fit.
"My wife told me, 'Don't get skinny and don't get fat,'" he said.
While the Ramrod Gym offers stationary work-outs, some also enjoy running the approximately two miles around FOB RAMROD's outer wall.
"I've always had difficulty with running," ReCasino said, "so I want to be able to get better at it while I'm here."
According to Keisacker, most soldiers eat more while deployed which hurts their fight to stay fit.
"A lot of it is the food here," Keisacker said, "but you're still in the Army and everyone has to stay to the standards."
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2009 02:09 |
| Story ID: | 42981 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE RAMROD, AF |
| Web Views: | 460 |
| Downloads: | 390 |
This work, Fitness During the Fight: Medic Team Quests to Stay in Shape at War, by SGT Nathan Booth, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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