Iron Horse Soldiers honor women's history through fitness

By U.S. ArmyApril 1, 2014

Fitness Cahllenge for Women's History Month
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Chief Warrant Officer 3 Juan Perez, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion tactical director, performs pull ups during a timed fitness competition commemorating Women's History Month March 29 and the Osan Fitness Center. Perez and three other Soldiers ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Women's History Month fitness challenge winners
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – [LEFT] Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brad Hudgins, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion standardization officer, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Juan Perez, the battalion tactical director, 1st Lt. Megan Parris, Delta Battery executive officer, and Master Sgt. Cli... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Push Ups for Women's History Month
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Master Sgt. Clifton Rush, 6-52 Air Defense Artillery master evaluator, performs push ups during a timed fitness competition commemorating Women's History Month at Osan Fitness Center March 29. Rush and three other Soldiers took first place in the com... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

OSAN AB, South Korea - "Iron Horse" Soldiers of 6-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 35th ADA Brigade, showed their physical and mental toughness at the Women's History Month Fitness Competition held here, March 29.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brad Hudgins, the battalion standardization officer and head coach of Hit 2 Kill CrossFit at Suwon AB, said it was reassuring to see the results of their hard work.

"We work at what we do every day as far as fitness is concerned," said Hudgins. "And to win [this competition] lets us know that we're doing it right."

The Air Defenders chose Sacajawea as their team name because of the strength of will and physical courage she displayed trekking across the American wilderness during the Lewis and Clark expedition, said Hudgins.

Team Sacajawea, consisting of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Juan Perez, the battalion tactical director, 1st Lt. Megan Parris, Delta Battery executive officer, Master Sgt. Clifton Rush, the battalion air defense master evaluator and Hudgins, took first place with a time of 16:17.

The first place individual winner, also from 6-52 ADA, was 1st Lt. Waverly Washington, a Bravo Battery platoon leader, with a final time of 5:20.

"I love fitness," said Washington. "And for me, I couldn't think of a better way to honor Women's History."

The teams completed a total of 100 pull ups, 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, and 100 squats, running 400 meters in between each event.

Individual competition consisted of a 45-pound plate overhead lunge for 25 yards, 20 air squats, "burpee" broad jumps for 25 yards, and 20 straight-leg sit ups with a 400-meter run at the beginning and end of the timed contest.

Teamwork and mutual encouragement pulled the Air Defenders through to the finish line, said Parris.

Parris admits that the standards for the competition were intimidating.

"But you can't let that type of thinking stand between you and your goals," she said.