Fort Bliss Monitor

Soldiers take on PT course
1-7 uses 'alternate' training to build body and mind

Spc. Jason Stadel
108th ADA Public Affairs

Soldiers from Bravo Battery 1-7 ADA battled the rain as well as the Air Assault Course during their PT session last week.

Unit cohesion, teamwork, physical training and morale building were the focus of two batteries in 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery last week during physical training hours.

Headquarters and Headquarters Battery took advantage of the Leadership Reaction Course, while B Btry. took the challenge of the Air Assault Course.

The LRC is designed to present situational obstacles for Soldiers to overcome, such as being able to cross a river with limited means and equipment. The obstacles are not impossible to overcome; however, the troops must work as a team to accomplish the task. “It’s a morale booster and builds cohesion,” Capt. Kenneth Frank, commander HHB, 1-7, said. “It makes [Soldiers] think as a group to accomplish a mission.”

For HHB, 1st Sgt. Anthony Walker liked the idea of his Soldiers working and making decisions together. “If you put forth a team effort you can conquer all obstacles. You always have to work as a team. Our goal is to build team leaders to work, and conquer any obstacles that get in their way.”

Bravo 1-7 used the Air Assault Course for two reasons: physical training and to develop their Soldier’s interests in becoming air assault qualified. “We did this before and more people started asking about going to air assault school, plus it builds unit moral,” 1st Sgt. Darrick Merritt said.

Leaders from both batteries said it’s nice to get away from the traditional PT every once and a while. “This gives the Soldiers something different than push-ups and sit-ups,” Merritt, said, “With the [Air Assault] course we get a good upper body workout and a good cardio work out, too.”

108th ADA Bde. Equal Opportunity Advisor, Sgt. 1st Class Edward Taitano, is an air assault rappel master. He said using the Air Assault Course for PT is a stepping-stone to get more Soldiers to Air Assault School. “108th probably sends more people to Air Assault than any other brigade. It boosts their confidence and prepares them if they want to go air assault.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 5, 2004

Bravo, 1-7 Soldiers climb the rope while making their way through the Air Assault course. A Soldier from HHB, 1-7 does his best to hang on while trying to complete the obstacles. One team from HHB, 1-7 found out first-hand how challenging the LRC Course can be. One of the obstacles Soldiers from HHB, 1-7 had to overcome was finding a way to get themselves and their supplies across a river. <map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Soldiers take on PT course 1-7 uses 'alternate' training to build body and mind Spc. Jason Stadel 108th ADA Public Affairs Soldiers from Bravo Battery 1-7 ADA battled the rain as well as the Air Assault Course during their PT session last week. Unit cohesion, teamwork, physical training and morale building were the focus of two batteries in 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery last week during physical training hours. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery took advantage of the Leadership Reaction Course, while B Btry. took the challenge of the Air Assault Course. The LRC is designed to present situational obstacles for Soldiers to overcome, such as being able to cross a river with limited means and equipment. The obstacles are not impossible to overcome; however, the troops must work as a team to accomplish the task. “It’s a morale booster and builds cohesion,” Capt. Kenneth Frank, commander HHB, 1-7, said. “It makes [Soldiers] think as a group to accomplish a mission.” For HHB, 1st Sgt. Anthony Walker liked the idea of his Soldiers working and making decisions together. “If you put forth a team effort you can conquer all obstacles. You always have to work as a team. Our goal is to build team leaders to work, and conquer any obstacles that get in their way.” Bravo 1-7 used the Air Assault Course for two reasons: physical training and to develop their Soldier’s interests in becoming air assault qualified. “We did this before and more people started asking about going to air assault school, plus it builds unit moral,” 1st Sgt. Darrick Merritt said. Leaders from both batteries said it’s nice to get away from the traditional PT every once and a while. “This gives the Soldiers something different than push-ups and sit-ups,” Merritt, said, “With the [Air Assault] course we get a good upper body workout and a good cardio work out, too.” 108th ADA Bde. Equal Opportunity Advisor, Sgt. 1st Class Edward Taitano, is an air assault rappel master. He said using the Air Assault Course for PT is a stepping-stone to get more Soldiers to Air Assault School. “108th probably sends more people to Air Assault than any other brigade. It boosts their confidence and prepares them if they want to go air assault.”