Photo By Sgt. Erica Kirsop | Sgt. Colin M. Bell, an aviation supply specialist with Marine Aviation Logistics...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - Sgt. Colin M. Bell, an aviation supply specialist with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 and an Ann Arbor, Mich., native, is the newest winner of Discovery Channel’s television show "One Man Army" during the Sept. 2 episode.
"One Man Army" pits four competitors, also known as “operatives,” in a test of speed, strength and intelligence for a $10,000 prize.
“Each episode tries to have all branches of services represented,” said Bell. “I competed against an Army captain, an Air Force major and a Dallas police officer. I was of course representing the Marine Corps.”
The show begins with four operatives competing in a physical one-on-one challenge. The two winners of the first challenge then compete in a final, intelligence-based competition toward the cash prize and title One Man Army.
This airing of OMA sent competitors through an obstacle course for their first challenge.
“We had to start off by repelling down a rope, grabbing ammo cans, navigating through a barrier, then carrying some progressively heavier ammo cans up a hill,” said Bell. “We ended by firing a pistol at various targets, which was difficult at that point because we were really out of breath. It was hard to control your breathing. I came out about 8 seconds before the other guy and first in time.”
The final competition was based on intelligence and involved the operatives hanging upside-down from a rope tied around their feet while they unlocked four safe combination codes. The codes were made up of various types of puzzles, requiring contestants to focus despite the rush of being upside-down. Every safe contained a piece of a weapon that the contestant had to put together and use to shoot at the rope holding them up.
“Up until that point I had won every challenge, but the way that they aired it, it really seemed like I was quite a bit behind,” said Bell.
Bell finished opening the last safe while his competitor, the Air Force major, still had two safes remaining to open.
“My favorite part of the show was the moment when I opened that fourth safe,” said Bell. “I realized that I was actually about to win. I didn’t really get nervous for the challenges, but I did get anxious. As soon as it started though, I put on my game face and got tunnel vision. That’s when it gets easy.”
Bell has always trained with this kind of focus on other competitions outside of the television shows as well.
He has taken first place among all military participants in the last four triathlons he has competed in, and is currently preparing for another scheduled for Sept. 17. His ultimate goal is to become a professional triathlete within the next three years, explained Bell.
Bell heard of the television show when he was contacted by the casting company, who saw videos on YouTube he had made in yet another athletic endeavor.
“I had posted videos from before I joined the Marine Corps of me doing some free-running, parkour and a little bit of climbing for a show called 'Ninja Warriors' that I had gone on,” said Bell. “They [the OMA casting company] contacted me through a Facebook message saying ‘We saw your videos and don’t know if you are affiliated with the military, but we think you would be a perfect candidate for the show we are putting together.’ I said I was actually in the Marine Corps so it worked out.”
Bell hopes to reappear on television at least one more time if the opportunity arises.
“They did tell me possibly in the future they might do an all-star episode that I would get to be a part of,” said Bell. “That would be great, and I would definitely go back.”
After appearing on and winning OMA, Bell placed his winnings in the bank to be saved for another kind of goal not linked to athletic ability.
“I am kind of frugal with my money, so it is sitting in the bank to be used as a down payment for a house someday in the future,” said Bell.
His other future goal is to further his Marine Corps career as an officer, and is working on a package for the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program.
After gaining the title of One Man Army and winning multiple triathlons, this MALS-16 aviation supply specialist says he is currently continuing to train for anything the future has to offer, whether it is another television show appearance or his future in the Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2011 18:12 |
| Story ID: | 76975 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,795 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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