Fort Drum boxers forge their way to glory

By Spc. Osama Ayyad, 10th Mountain Division JournalistSeptember 3, 2015

Coaches dedicate time, effort to Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Club
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left, Amanda Richmond; Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pruitt, of 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI); Sgt. 1st Class Da'Marchitzy White, I Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigad... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Club
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Fort Drum Soldiers and community members representing the Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Club pose Aug. 17 at the Atkins Functional Fitness Facility with the championship boxing belt they earned while representing Fort Drum at the Fort Jackson Boxi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Club
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Priscilla Parra, a military policewoman at 511th Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, listens to advice from Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Coach Sarah Williams about her fighting stance Aug. 17 at the Atkins Functional Fitness... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Drum boxers excel in competition
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Dantrell Morris, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, has been boxing on the Iron Will Club for seven months. He fought Jeffrey Boswell from Fort Hamilton and co... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Sept. 3, 2015) -- As the saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

Four Fort Drum community members are willing to commit their time and effort to show others on post an alternative way to develop strength, courage and perserverance.

They call it the Iron Will Boxing and Fitness Club.

Every weekday, from 6 to 8 p.m., Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pruitt, Sgt. 1st Class Da'Marchitzy White, Amanda Richmond and Sarah Williams, meet other Fort Drum community members at one of the installation's physical fitness facilities to share their passion for boxing.

Da'Marchitzy, the team's strength and conditioning coach, said he believes that Iron Will offers a new avenue for self-improvement.

"We set out to teach people how to box," Da'Marchitzy said. "This is an environment where you can just come to strengthen yourself in the process of learning how to box. Boxing builds confidence and self-esteem, and it could be used for self-defense."

Iron Will's philosophy breeds discipline, Da'Marchitzy said.

"To provide an environment that breeds great fighters, we need great Soldiers -- we need great people," he said. "Every Army Value is constant in boxing -- fighters have to practice personal courage to fight against an opponent; fighters have to show up to practice out of loyalty to themselves and the team; fighters need to show integrity in the ring; fighters feel a sense of duty and obligation to help each other become better; and they have to respect the game."

If a member of the team acts in a manner inconsistent with the spirit of the club, that person will not be able to represent Iron Will or Fort Drum in a boxing ring.

Iron Will fighters are not the only ones to benefit from the environment of dedication, respect and personal growth. Da'Marchitzy, the maintenance manager of I Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, said that being an Iron Will coach has made him a better noncommissioned officer and has given him the patience and the will to teach members who have difficulty adapting to new boxing styles.

Helping Soldiers who are new to the Army or Fort Drum is what inspires Amanda Richmond the most. Richmond, who teaches fighters everything from foot work to boxing maneuvers, said the club gives Fort Drum community members a recreational outlet that allows them to do something they feel is worth the effort. Soldiers new to the Army or Fort Drum will find a group of people outside of their work environment who can mentor them not only in boxing but in Army life.

"Sometimes, you'll see new Soldiers come to practice carrying a weight on their shoulders," Richmond said. "At the end of practice, it's all gone. They might be physically exhausted, but, mentally and emotionally, they seem unburdened."

Pfc. Dantrell Morris, who has been at Fort Drum for less than a year, has been a member of Iron Will Boxing and Fitness for seven months. Morris, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, said he loves Iron Will and the opportunity it provides to recreationally box. By being a Soldier and a member of Iron Will, Morris said he has the perfect opportunity to train.

"Boxing was my first love, so when I got to Fort Drum, my first duty station, I was happy to find Iron Will," he said. "Fort Drum has boxing, so it has me. If it wasn't for this club, I wouldn't be the best Soldier I can be. Boxing makes athletes into warriors."

Morris was one of the nine Iron Will boxers who competed Aug. 1 at the Fort Jackson Boxing Smoker in Fort Jackson, S.C. Although not an official installation club, Iron Will proudly represented themselves and Fort Drum by defeating every other installation team represented there to win the U.S.A. Magazine Award United States Army Post Championship Boxing.

Boxing helps Soldiers with all aspects of life, and Richmond said Soldiers have reaped the rewards of patience and perseverance through the sweet science. They learn how important accountability is to reaching their goals. They learn how to work independently and with one another, and most of all it enhances their social skills.

"These Soldiers wake up around 5 or 6 a.m. They do (Physical Training). They work throughout their duty day, and they still come in here for two hours a day." Richmond said. "They are committed. Their overall commitment and determination to complete missions grows."

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Pruitt, Iron Will head coach, serves as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the logistics office at the 277th Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, and has been with the team since the beginning. He wanted to share his love for boxing with the Fort Drum community, and he wanted to use boxing to help 10th Mountain Division Soldiers.

"Through boxing, I believe our Soldiers can become better leaders," Pruitt said.

"Once they become aware of what they can achieve through hard work, persistence and technique, they'll know that they, and their Soldiers, can make it through any challenge and that they'll be better because of it," he added.

One of Iron Will's newest members, Spc. Priscilla Parra of the 511th Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, arrived at Fort Drum in July and has attended every practice for more than two weeks.

"Everybody here is friendly," Parra said. "It doesn't matter what skill level you're at, they will help you. They helped me a lot."

She said Iron Will members helped make her transition to the new post easier and the coaches were always willing to offer support. Parra enjoys boxing, but, more importantly, she said it is helping her become better at her job.

"Boxing with Iron Will has so far has taught me how to be a better mentor," Parra said. "The physical discipline required to box and the ability to read your opponent's body language make me a better (Military Policewoman)."

Parra said she can't wait to represent Fort Drum in the ring when she is scheduled to fight in October.

The opportunity to compete is one of the motivators for Soldier who fight for Iron Will. If they do well, they may earn an invitation to the All-Army Boxing camp, where Pruitt was invited to coach in 2014.

The first Fort Drum Soldier ever invited to box at the All-Army Boxing camp was Cpl. Kamal James, of B Company, 1st Battalion, 87th infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

The All-Army boxing camp is a tryout event for the Army World Class Athlete Program. After a month long training cycle, Soldiers at the camp then compete in their weight class, and the gold-medal winner represents the Army at the Armed Forces championship.

James attended the camp in 2014 and also has fought for the Watertown Boxing Club. He said boxing makes him feel younger and helps him maintain his athleticism and health at the age of 33. Earlier this year, James was asked by the Army World Class Athlete Program to fight against a British army soldier at Fort Bragg, N.C.

"The American champion got hurt, and they called me," James said. "It was an honor. There were so many other people they could have asked, but they asked me. I lost, but I wasn't supposed to last against (the British champion). I held my own, and I made it to the end of the fight."

Spc. Alex Russell Jean, who won the silver medal in his weight class at the All-Army Camp in 2014, while representing 2nd Infantry Division, originally had orders to move from Korea to Fort Campbell, Ky. After meeting Pruitt, Jean called his branch manager and asked to be stationed at Fort Drum.

"Coach Pruitt is like a big brother and a mentor to me," Jean said. "Because of Coach Pruitt and Iron Will, I can embrace the challenges of being a both a Soldier and a boxer, and, with the help of (other members of Iron Will), that pressure makes me tougher -- it makes me a better Soldier."

Jean, who is assigned to I Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, said boxing is his way of having a good time. Instead of falling into the allure of less-productive leisure, Jean has spent most of his free time at the Fort Drum with Iron Will.

Because of their stellar performances in the ring, James, Jean and Morris were invited to attend the All-Army Boxing Camp at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., which began Aug. 23 with Pruitt in their corner as coach.

"Knowing what I know now, I would have joined the Army as soon as I graduated high school," Jean said. "Iron Will and the Army has made sure my Family and I are taken care of. I am proud to be a Soldier, and I am proud to box for Iron Will."

Related Links:

Army.mil: Human Interest

10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum

Fort Drum on Facebook