Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Alejandro Sias | 1st Sgt. David Shindel, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Armored Brigade,...... read more read more
FORT BLISS, Texas – Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Armored Brigade, “Hammer,” worked out as tactical athletes under the Mission Essential Fitness program at Ironworks Gym here May 19.
The MEF program’s primary purpose is to develop operational fitness for military personnel and much of its philosophy coincides with what today’s athlete does to condition and prepare for the game.
“Today, there are 32 stations set up for training,” stated John D. Barela, Sports Specialist and Director at the Ironworks Gym, East Fort Bliss.
Different stations range from tire-throwing to weight-lifting, sled pulling to high-jumping.
“It gets pretty busy in the early mornings over here,” said Barela, as he was monitoring one of the stations. As many as 200 soldiers at a time come through each morning during the week.
“It builds unit cohesiveness … you’re working together and encouraging each other on through each of the stations,” said Maj. Alfreda Lacey, brigade intelligence officer. “This type of workout is different than the one we have been used to, which was more individual.”
The concept of the “tactical athlete” being a soldier means soldiers are working out much in the same fashion as professional athletes do. The National Strength & Conditioning Association defines the tactical athlete as a soldier that engages in combat and requires high levels of strength, speed, power, and agility.
By training soldiers in the same fashion as professional athletes, the MEF program offers the same expertise in developing the tactical athlete for mission related duties.
The Army is modernizing and transforming soldiers into tactical athletes. The tactical athlete must be fit and meet the demands of combat in order to defeat the enemy. Athletes commit their mind, body and spirit to the task of working out so they can be ready.
The MEF program started in July 2008 at Stout Physical Fitness Center and moved to what is now known as Ironworks Gym, East Fort Bliss.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2011 12:23 |
| Story ID: | 72425 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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