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Story by Staff Sgt. Lorene Mauro
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Fifty five Soldiers from the 213th Regional Support Group joined other Pennsylvania Army National Guard units in attending the fourth iteration of the new Fitness Improvement Training Program Plus here August 6-20.
Soldiers from the 213th Regional Support Group, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 28th Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion and 55th Armor Brigade Combat Team attended and served as cadre for this iteration.
FIT-P+ is a commander recommended 148 hour course. During the 15 day course, participants attend classes and training events geared towards a healthier lifestyle, resiliency, and reinforcing the Warrior Ethos and Army core competencies, said Sgt. 1st Class Jon Gibbons, the Individual Training Branch noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
The course is designed to employ the Army’s total Soldier concept, he said. Soldiers attend nutritional counseling and fitness classes as well as practicing Soldier skills such as marksmanship, land navigation, combatives and other individual common tasks, Gibbons continued.
Sgt. Donald J. MacKenzie, a flight medic with Foxtrot Company 1/169th Aviation Battalion, 28th Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division and a medic during this iteration said there is definitely an exercise component of the course, but it’s also a lot more than that.
“I think they do a good job of getting away from just the [physical fitness] part of it,” said MacKenzie.
Spc. Allan J. Hopperstead, a health care specialist from the 28th Military Police Company, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group and a medic for FIT-P+ said he was impressed with the classes given during the program.
“The nutrition classes really inform and help really break down plans to support fitness goals and maintain an overall healthier lifestyle,” said Hopperstead.
Spc. Drew M. Workman, an information systems specialist from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group and a participant in the program, said he enjoyed attending the program.
“They should make this an [annual training] for everyone,” said Workman. “It’s awesome. It feels like I’m in the Army; it was fun shooting, ruck marching and doing land [navigation],” he said.
The Soldiers were weighed, taped if needed, and given a diagnostic Army Physical Fitness Test at the beginning and end of the program.
The 213th Regional Support Group Soldiers lost a total of 390 and altogether the 106 Soldiers that participated in this iteration lost 727 pounds; that’s about 7 pounds per Soldier, said Gibbons. APFT scores went up by about 38 points on average, he added.
For more information ‘like’ the 213th Regional Support Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/213RSG
| Date Taken: | 08.30.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.31.2016 15:54 |
| Story ID: | 208628 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 693 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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