Photo By Lance Cpl. Anya Poteet | U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Edwin Omanahernandez, human performance chief, The...... read more read more
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CHICAGO – The Marine Corps Recruiting Command has partnered with the United Soccer Coaches to connect with coaches from around the country during the United Soccer Coaches Convention Jan. 9 to 11, 2024.
Fit to Win, a newly rebranded program from the “Wake Up and Workout” series, is a Marine Corps program established in 2024 that focuses on both mental and physical fitness. This program is used in conjunction with several national partnerships to highlight the Marine Corps’ values of mental and physical resiliency.
Fit to Win aims to give coaches the tools to develop adaptable athletes who can continue to win when it counts, both mentally and physically, no matter what they’re up against.
“I’ve used a lot of Marine Corps references over the years,” said Emma Hayes, head coach of the 2024 Olympic gold medalist United States Women’s National Team. Hayes spoke during her presentation at USCC on Jan. 11, 2025, where she discussed her coaching methods and the future of soccer. Hayes detailed the importance of training the brain, comparing the value of mental fitness to that of a Marine in combat and a soccer player during a game.
“You must train your brain to constantly be in a position to make split decisions. It’s the same for when you play football. You must know exactly what to do during a game,” said Hayes. “Mental resilience is absolutely essential.”
Throughout these partnerships, the Marine Corps intends to build mutually beneficial engagements that illustrate Marine values and provide awareness for who Marines are and what they do.
“The Marine Corps helps educate young people on mental toughness and resilience, things I learned in the Marine Corps that I believe translate well into sports,” said Haley Carter, former Marine and Orlando Pride’s current sporting director and vice president of soccer operations for the National Women’s Soccer League.
Coaches at the United Soccer Coaches Convention participated in a workout session as part of the Fit to Win program, led by U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Edwin Omanahernandez, human performance chief for The Basic School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.
The coaches participated in four exercises with 15 repetitions in each. The intent behind the workout, as Omanahernandez stated, is to evaluate the ability of strangers to communicate with each other and to stimulate their mental resilience in more physically demanding situations. In the second round, Omanahernandez added more adverse conditions: taking away their rest, switching the leader after each exercise, and combining the coaches into larger groups to increase the challenges of communication.
“At the end of the workout everyone expressed what a great experience they had,” said Omanahernandez. “And why? Because it was a unique workout that tested them mentally and physically.”
The workout left a lasting impression for many of the attendees, some detailing how notably constructed and challenging the exercises were.
“I thought it was very well organized and instructed. The program brought together 16 strangers to work in tandem and communicate through different exercises and activities,” said Josh Smith, an assistant coach at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
He spoke about how the workout made him exercise his mind and body, a point he believes is important to instill in athletics.
“I think it’s important for athletes to condition both their minds and bodies to be in the best shape they can be,” said Smith. “Mental and physical fitness go hand in hand.”
Smith recognizes the correlation between Marines and competitive athletes. Namely, how they are expected to have critical-thinking skills and be able to make quick decisions while continuing to work themselves physically.
“It was a very unique experience,” said Tanisia Davis, the president of Atomic Athletics Soccer Club.
Davis described the workout, saying that the focus points of the exercises were teamwork and communication. A team that was not unified during the exercise would start over and try again.
“I think the Marine Corps’ workout did a great job of challenging how well we can control our minds when we’re physically fatigued,” said Davis. “It’s a lesson I want to bring back to the kids I coach.”
When speaking about what Davis had learned during the workout, she compared the values of the Marine Corps to the values within her own organization.
“The Marine Corps’ values of honor, courage, and commitment are very similar to the values within our own club of confidence, community, and character,” said Davis. “I would love to instill these core values into our kids.”
These three core values, as well as resiliency, are qualities held dear to the Marine Corps. Whether in a game or on a mission, these traits are just as critical to accomplishing success.
“The same values that make Marines successful make athletes successful,” said Carter. When comparing Marines to athletes, Carter stated how accountability, humility, teamwork, and resilience resound throughout both the Corps and athletics.
The Marine Corps and athletics share in their values and in the importance of building mental and physical resiliency. Those who find themselves successful in athletics and who enjoy the mental and physical challenges faced as an athlete might find a successful path in joining the Marine Corps.
“The Marine Corps was an excellent opportunity for me to evaluate different strategies for maximizing performance and serving people around me,” said Carter. “My ability to make decisions and deal with high-pressure situations effectively is because of the preparation I had in the Marine Corps.”
The Marine Corps is committed to attracting, mentoring, and retaining talented men and women who are interested in serving in a variety of capacities with the understanding that they are actively contributing to the nation’s call and are willing to fight for a better collective future.
“I think anyone who wants to serve a higher purpose should join the Marine Corps. It’s been the best job I’ve ever had,” said Omanahernandez. “It builds habits and instills values that last a lifetime.”
For information regarding joining the Marine Corps, call 1-800-MARINES or visit the Marine Corps’ website at connect.marines.com
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.24.2025 13:24 |
| Story ID: | 489218 |
| Location: | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 73 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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