Not your usual PT: Unit takes on CrossFit

By Staff Sgt. Rob Strain, 15th Sustainment Brigade Public AffairsJune 8, 2009

Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, jump during the "burpee" CrossFit exercise June 4. The burpee is an exercise that combines a pushup with a high jump. The unit is incorporating ...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, jump during the "burpee" CrossFit exercise June 4. The burpee is an exercise that combines a pushup with a high jump. The unit is incorporating ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sgt. Michael Martin, a CrossFit instructor with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, demonstrates a squat to the members of the unit June 4 during the unit's physical training session. (U.S. A...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Michael Martin, a CrossFit instructor with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, demonstrates a squat to the members of the unit June 4 during the unit's physical training session. (U.S. A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - "You're getting a 10-minute workout."

The physical training instructor Sgt. Michael Martin, got a few odd looks from the unit.

Normally, Army physical training is one hour, but the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, is trying something new - CrossFit, and the morning's actual workout length was 10 minutes of physical exercise for each Soldier.

CrossFit, which is a relatively new training regimen available to the Army, is intended to train participants in functional fitness, rather than a specific event, such as the Army Physical Fitness Test, said Master Sgt. Marcus Woody, one of the CrossFit instructors with the company.

"CrossFit shocks your body all the time," Woody said.

He went on to explain that CrossFit is a constantly varying program that is highly adaptable to include a number of different exercises, including things like carrying sandbags or duffel bags.

"Anything can be CrossFit," the Moody, Texas, native said.

Woody said he enjoys the program, but it hasn't been easy.

"I've always thought I was in very good shape, Army-standard wise," Woody said. "I did CrossFit, and it broke me off - intensely.

"I realized I wasn't in as good a shape as I thought."

Woody said he has seen a drastic improvement in his physical fitness level since he started doing CrossFit about six weeks ago.

"It's not a routine," Woody said. "[It] keeps you shocked and keeps you guessing as to what your next fitness regimen will be."

Capt. Estan Davis, the company's commander, implemented the program into the unit's physical training because he felt that many of the core strength area were being ignored.

"The sole purpose was to focus on building that core strength," Davis said.

When the opportunity presented itself, Davis explained, he sent two instructors through the course.

He feels that the program is going quite well, and is preparing to expand it to be every Tuesday and Thursday.

"We've seen tremendous increases in Soldiers' abilities to score well," Davis said.

One Soldier, Spc. Baniah Rogers, with the brigade's personnel section, said he enjoys the explosive nature of the exercises, as well as the cardio respiratory benefits from the program.

"I think it's really great," Rogers continued. "It breaks out of the monotony of just running all the time."