FORT STEWART, Ga. - Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Soldiers and Family Members, enthusiastic and ready for some togetherness, challenges and fun, turned out in numbers for the inaugural Fitness First: The Amazing Race on March 12.
At Fort Stewart, the event attracted 109 Families, with an estimated total of 350 participants. About 65 participants took part in the Amazing Race challenges at Hunter.
The event at Stewart took participants from Bennett Sports Complex to Marne Lanes, Newman Gym, Jordan Gym, Corkan Family Recreation Center and Club Stewart.
First Lieutenant Thaddeus Pickett, 2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, said the Amazing Race was a way for him and his Family to discover more of what Fort Stewart has to offer its Soldiers. First Lieutenant Pickett was with wife, Tami, and son, Daniel. They live in Richmond Hill.
"So far, we've done basketball, baseball (at Bennett Sports Complex), the rock climb (at Corkan Family Fun Center) and the bowling (at Stewart Lanes)," he said. "We're getting to see more of the things at Fort Stewart that we didn't know were here. It's pretty cool."
One Family reported they ran from one challenge site to another, "just like they do it on television." Most participants drove from one challenge to another.
The We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) program was the background theme to the physical challenges offered by the Amazing Race sponsored by each of the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities on the challenge path.
Participants' reasons for being a part of it all varied.
"We were looking for something to do as a Family," said Staff Sgt. Billy Turner, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division. "We like to be active. We don't want the kids to just sit around and watch TV and play video games all day." He spoke as he, his wife Lekisia, and sons Ishmael, 14, and Isaiah, 11, waited to take part in the Rock Wall climb at Corkan.
Staff Sergeant Turner said his Family found the softball event challenging.
"We had a hard time hitting the ball into the outfield," he said. "We enjoyed the free throws and the Wii Challenge. We're having a great time."
Staff Sergeant Augusto Bernard, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, and wife Magdalena took part in the race with daughters Alyssa, 6, and Alivia, 5.
"We are doing this today to show our kids that it is fun to exercise and keep fit," Magdalena said. "We're also doing it as a Family bonding experience. We all play softball; my girls do tee ball. We're a pretty active Family."
The Amazing Race was a chance for a group of spouses whose husbands are deployed to get together and have fun while waiting for their Soldiers to come home, said Colleen Baccus, whose husband, Staff Sgt. Gary Baccus of 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, is currently deployed with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Their group was composed of six mothers and 12 children ranging in age from one month to five years old.
"The kids love it. They are having a great time," she said.
At Fort Stewart, event sponsor Mike Reed, owner of Mike Reed Chevrolet of Hinesville, presented a check for $800 to the Centurions 2-3 BTB Family Readiness Group. Of the 14 participating FRGs, the Centurions had the greatest number of Families.
The "passports" of all who completed the Amazing Race were entered into a drawing for a 32-inch flat screen TV, a Wii and a Wii Fit. Reed drew the name of the winner, Spc. Nathan LaFountain of 2-3 BTB.
The winning Family Readiness Group at Hunter was the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Gregory Smith of, 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, won the Wii Fit, Drew Gaboriavlt the Wii and Cody Gavoriavlt the television.
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