Teenage Eagle Scout builds PT field for wounded warriors

By Cheryl Rodewig, The BayonetOctober 1, 2009

Eagle:
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT BENNING, GA - Fort Benning has a new PT field, researched and engineered by 15-year-old Mark Yanoschik.

Mark began his Eagle Scout project, a PT course designed with the needs of wounded warriors in mind, in February. With the help of LTC Sean Mulcahey, commander of the Warrior Transition Battalion, Mark measured the materials, discussed the construction with engineers and physical therapists and finally broke ground in April.

Most Scouts try to finish their projects during the summer, but Mark said he wanted the field to be available to WTB Soldiers as quickly as possible.

"I just figured the sooner the better; the sooner they had the PT field, the sooner these Soldiers could go out and use it," said Mark, a sophomore at Columbus High School. "I was trying to do the Eagle project at the same time (as) school work, and it was freshman year, so I was still getting used to all of that. I found it very hard, but in the end it was rewarding."

Like a traditional PT field, the new field, located inside the WTB complex, includes push-up, sit-up, pull-up and dip bars. However, it also has a set of bars designed for use with a theraband, a rubber exercise band used in rehabilitation, and a lowered pull-up bar for wheelchair-bound Soldiers.

"It gives our Soldiers an opportunity to enhance their rehabilitation," said Mulcahey, current Scoutmaster for Troop 27, Mark's Boy Scout troop.

"A lot of our Soldiers want to get through their injuries and their wounds and get back to duty, and this gives a great opportunity for them to do it right here without having to go to the gym," he said. "It gets used pretty much every day. I use it myself every time I do PT along with my Soldiers."

Mark, who lived on Army posts for his first 14 years, said he was happy to see the finished product helping Soldiers.

"It's hard when you're doing the work ... you just wonder if it's really all going to be worth it. But once you look back on it, you can just be happy. You see that it's being put to use, it's helping people," he said. "The Army's been a lot in my life. I love being on post and seeing the Soldiers. Some of these Soldiers here are wounded because they're helping our country, so this was just a small contribution I could make to help them."

Last year, only 5 percent of Boy Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout, according to the Boy Scouts of America Web site.

"Making Eagle really is one of the first significant achievements for many young boys as they're going through the Scouting program," Mulcahey said. "I made my Eagle Scout in 1983. It's something that does last throughout your life - and most of the time you will find Eagle Scouts who will go on to bigger and better goals."

Mark was honored for his achievement Wednesday at the Benning Conference Center.

"It's a functional project that Soldiers are using, and I'm especially proud because it benefits wounded Soldiers," said LTC(R) Tom Yanoschik, Mark's father said assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 27. "As long as the unit is there, they'll be using it."