Ohio Air Guard Holds "Herc Challenge"

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Alexis Wade | The Mansfield Senior High School Tygers and the Shelby High School Whippets football team participates in the 179th Airlift Wing's "Herc Challenge" held at Arlin Field, Mansfield, Ohio, June 19, 2019. The recruiting event is designed to motivate participants while making them aware of the benefits the Air National Guard can offer them right in their own back yard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Alexis Wade)  

MANSFIELD, OHIO, UNITED STATES

06.21.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Alexis Wade 

179th Cyberspace Wing

The Mansfield Senior High School Tygers and the Shelby High School Whippets football team participated in the 179th Airlift Wing's "Herc Challenge" held at Arlin Field, Mansfield, Ohio, June 19.

Tech. Sgt. Nick Alexander, Recruiter with the 179th Airlift Wing, first created the “Herc Challenge” in 2018, with the goal of bringing together the community and the Air National Guard while teaching the athletes about the core values through a physically and mentally demanding workout. The challenge included a two-mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, tire flips, bleacher sprints and a 200-yard sprint to finish.

Alexander works at Mansfield Senior High School every Tuesday during the school year, mentoring the students and teaching them about the Air National Guard. The “Herc Challenge” came to fruition after working out with the football team and speaking with Mansfield’s head football coach about creating an event sponsored by the Air National Guard to bring the community together, learn about the Guard and have a good time, said Alexander.

“The big thing I wanted to hit on with this challenge was instilling the core values into these athletes, because it can be related to anybody and everybody in all aspects of life, and I think this challenge succeeded in doing that,” said Alexander.

With the success of last year’s challenge and how much the students enjoyed it, the invitation was extended to other local football teams and Shelby joined Mansfield in competing this year.

“Having both teams involved was an awesome opportunity to bring the community together and not only to compete against each other, but to compete against themselves and work together to complete the challenge,” said Alexander.

Alexander believes the Herc Challenge in a way is much like the Guard, in that it brings individuals together from all walks of life, all working together to get the job done.

Looking to the future, Alexander hopes the challenge will continue to grow and more teams will get involved to strengthen the bonds of local schools while learning about the Guard.

• Date Taken: 06.21.2019
• Date Posted: 06.21.2019 13:57
• Story ID: 328660
• Location: MANSFIELD, OHIO, US