SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii-- A nervous chatter filled the air in the early morning, Apr. 12, as officers of the 45th Special Troops Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, waited for their turn to jump into the first official Crossfit competition.
Some were chomping at the bit to start the exercise circuit. Others were more hesitant.
"It been about a year," said Warrant Officer Ebony Campbell, a human resources technician with the unit, "so it's been a while. It was challenging, but the exercises were good and everyone had a good time."
Crossfit, a popular strength and conditioning program which combines weightlifting, sprinting, and gymnastics with high intensity repetitions, has become increasingly popular among military fitness enthusiasts. For the challenge, participants worked their way through sets of box jumps, push press, squats, sit-ups and pushups, among other exercises.
Officers had to complete a set amount of repetitions for each exercise as fast as they could for an overall time. The circuit was designed to push those familiar with Crossfit, but simple enough for individuals new to the fitness trend.
"I thought it was a good introduction for most and a good workout for those who have done crossfit before," said 2nd Lt. Karl Hausfield, platoon leader for the 25th Transportation Company, 45th Sustainment Bde. "The time element is great, because it's a good way to see who's fit and who needs some improvement."
Fitness has always been important in the Army, especially for higher ranking individuals.
"As officers, we're leaders" said Campbell. "How can we expect our Soldiers to do something if we can't do it ourselves? We have to set the example."
There was certainly some healthy competition among participants, but the event also gave the officers a chance to work together and help each other out. Anyone struggling with the exercises got strong encouragement from their colleagues, and those more familiar with the exercises were happy to give demonstrations.
Overall, the competition gave the officers a chance to push themselves and their colleagues to their fitness limits. This was the first official Crossfit competition for officers of the 45th Sustainment Bde., but it will not be the last.
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