World-class training

The Army's World Class Athlete Program is the pinnacle of sports in the service. For members of the Fort Jackson boxing team, having the coach come to train them is honor.

Charles Leverette, the head boxing coach for the Army team, was on post April 18-22 with other members of his team to help Jackson's boxers improve their skills.

First Lt. Matthew Aycox, with the Fort Jackson's Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and member of the post boxing team found the experience immeasurable in helping the team improve.

"I say this is an amazing thing. The training is second to none. Second to none," he said while trying to catch his breath after a high intensity circuit training. "I appreciate him taking the time to teach us the technical aspects of boxing; sharing his knowledge. I think it's amazing and anyone who wants to box should take part in this."

It's a whole gamut of training activities," Aycox added. "We do speed training, we do cardio, we do strength training and we do the technical aspects of boxing so we are getting the full advantage of boxing."

The WCAP offers Soldiers the best training possible while also having established training centers around the country.

According to WCAP, 446 Army Soldiers have represented the United States at the summer and winter Olympic Games as athletes/coaches, earning 111 medals in a variety of sports from bobsled, track and field, boxing, wrestling, and shooting since 1948. After WCAP's inception in 1997, 55 Soldier-athletes have participated in the summer and winter Olympic Games winning Gold, Silver, and Bronze Olympic Medals.

Leverette and his team were invited by Mike Garcia with the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation to help the post's boxing team.

"He asked us to come train up some of the boxers they have down here on the post team," Leverette said. "These can be feeder programs for the World Class Athlete Program out at Fort Carson. I came out here to give some of my expertise in boxing down here."

Leverette praised the Fort Jackson team, as Spc. Rianna Rios, a WCAP boxer in the 125-pound weight class who helped him train the post team, led the team in stretching inside the ring.

"They are doing well. I am impressed," he said. "I pushed them a little bit with endurance and taught them some small fundamentals they need to work on and something to build on."

Some of the endurance exercises included a circuit of punching a heavy bag for speed and power, slamming heavy ropes, lifting and slamming down a medicine ball, rowing machines, and a versa climber.

"It's a very small group," he said as he watched five members of the Fort Jackson team conduct neck stretching exercises with their heads hanging over the ring's apron. "But where you got two or three is a crowd in boxing. I'm honored have been able to come down here and share a little bit of my knowledge."