A handful of top athletes from Wisconsin's high schools mustered the courage to showcase their talents against the Army's physical fitness training program April 4.
The Milwaukee Recruiting Battalion partnered with the Milwaukee Bucks to launch a joint experiment coined the "Warrior Athlete Drill Challenge." The battalion invited drill sergeants from the Mobile Exhibitor Drill Sergeant Program, U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade, to engage the 18 selected athletes in a challenge that went beyond their capacities to do push-ups or sit-ups. It challenged them to think about their future and to expect more from it.
Staff Sgts. Jeremy Beals and DaShawne Browne, exhibitor drill sergeants, led the athletes through some of the Army's new PT regimen. Concurrently, the drill sergeants explained how the Army grooms Soldiers to become better individuals, leaders and team players.
For completing the challenge, the athletes were marched onto the Bradley Center court and individually recognized during a time out period of the Bucks vs. Memphis Grizzlies game.
"We can talk to the students all day long but unless they get recognized in front of the public, it's never going to be a success," said Beals, "You've got to bring them outside of the school so people can see them."
Beals said he favored the idea of bringing a group of student athletes to both challenge and recognize them, even if the Army is not in their immediate future.
"They may not think about the Army now, they may not talk about the Army tomorrow (because) they all have big dreams and aspirations, but if those plans fall through they will remember this moment when they spent a day with an outstanding recruiting battalion and they got to see two drill sergeants march them onto the court," Beals said.
Browne said it wasn't hard talking the Army values with students who are at the top of their class.
"If the (students) realize that the Army values are already something they believe in, such as the importance of being physically fit, they'll see how there are many other qualities of the Army that match theirs," Browne said.
One of the athletes, Brian Fure, said he wasn't sure what to expect from the Warrior Athlete Drill Challenge upon learning of his selection. He drove about three and a half hours from Cassville, Wis., to participate in the challenge.
Fure said he enjoyed engaging in the exercises used to train Soldiers, especially the teamwork activities and relay races, but it was more of a learning experience for him about the Army.
"I realize the Army is about building people and creating character, not just sending them off to war," Fure said.
Mark Kelly, a high school student from Milwaukee, said he expected grueling exercises that would test his physical ability. Although encountering a physical challenge was part of the event, something new he learned was the Army values.
"I think the Army could be a possible career for me after college," Kelly said. "The Army looks like it takes care of its Soldiers and I think I would love to be a part of something very special."
Social Sharing