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Jeremy Beale
Staff Writer
The results are in! After the Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ) High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) preliminaries two Marines, Sgt. Justin Odom, Marine Corps Systems Command and Maj. Kerry Hogan, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, will go to the national HITT competition at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The event is scheduled to take place Aug. 28-31 and will give the Marines a chance to be recognized as the ultimate tactical warrior athlete.
The HITT competition was created to help the HITT program grow in popularity as the physical fitness program is still in its infancy.
In 2008 the Combat Fitness Test (CFT) was implemented across the Marine Corps, a more combat-oriented version of the annual Physical Fitness Test (PFT), which Marines must pass each year.
Later that year, the Combat Conditioning Program was initiated by Marine Corps Community Services’ Semper Fit program and by 2012, HITT was launched to be used as a training alternative for the annual CFT test.
The CFT is much like the HITT program as Marines are tested in their boots and utes while completing a half mile movement to contact run, ammunition can lift and a “maneuver under fire” drill, which includes a 10-yard sprint, a 15-yard crawl hauling of a simulated casualty for 75 yards and more.
With CFT season beginning, HITT Coordinator Charles Yackle believes all Marines could benefit from the program.
As Training and Education Command (TECOM), based out of MCBQ began beta testing their Force Fitness Instructor (FFI) program in 2016, the Corps has sought to promote innovative healthy physical fitness alternatives such as HITT to strengthen the physicality of Marines and in turn improve PFT scores, CFT scores and Body Composition Program (BCP) productivity.
“No one Marine is alike,” Yackle said. “The training program can be personalized and used by all Marines whether they are leaders seeking development or an individual seeking self-improvement.”
The HITT program can be used by individual Marines or as a unit training tool to plan and execute a unit's fitness training program for pre-deployment, deployment, and post deployment.
HITT has been described as a different kind of workout from the typical running, push-ups and pull-ups Marines have become accustomed to. Through engagement of different types of preset workouts, practices and equipment Marines are made more well-rounded and healthier as their functional fitness and conditioning improves.
The HITT Program is based on three core principles of a sound strength and conditioning program, minimalization of injuries, increased performance levels and foundational strength, optimized mobility and increased speed. These are the core principals taught by trained HITT instructors.
“HITT instructors over the years have become recognized as tough, but fair individuals,” Yackle said. “We are here to ensure the health and wellness of the Marines in their journey towards self-improvement.”
According Yackle, the HITT competition has done wonders for the program as it has added a national competitive spirit to the program.
However, at the end of the day the program is geared toward Marines improving their physical well-being and scoring better on their PFT and CFT tests.
“We want to see Marines succeed in their career and everyday life, because their success is our success” Yackle said. “If a Marine puts time and energy into the program they will yield results.”
In order to become a HITT instructor Marines are required to be a sergeant or above, or a unit physical training leader with a first-class physical fitness test and combat fitness test. If the Marine is of lesser rank, he or she must have a waiver in order to become an instructor.
To qualify, candidates must pass a week long course that emphasizes HITT methodology, basic exercise physiology, nutrition, programming, injury prevention, and functional fitness/combat conditioning modalities.
Successful graduates of the program can take a Level-2 course which covers advanced exercise techniques, biomechanics of movement and theory of programming.
All candidates must submit the appropriate application and health history questionnaire to the installation HITT coordinator 14 days prior the start date of the course.
To receive more information about HITT or to locate the HITT daily workout module, HITT instructor application or view more than 500 educational exercise videos visit the website fitness.usmc.mil.
jbeale@quanticosentryonline.com
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2017 12:28 |
| Story ID: | 240247 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 183 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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