FORT HOOD, Texas -- Participating in a physical fitness challenge could be tough, but conducting three consecutive rounds for a challenge could be worse.
The 4th Squadron "Dark Horse," 9th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, hosted a Dark Horse Noncommissioned Officer Physical Fitness Challenge, here, Nov 2.
Five two-man teams, one team from each troop, competed against each other for name recognition and bragging rights on whose troop has the toughest NCOs, said 1st Lt. Tim Connors, an assistant Dark Horse operations officer.
The entire 3.2-mile course incorporated five stations in which teams had to perform a maximum amount of total team reps for the following exercises: Dead lifts, Goblet squats -- squats with a kettle bell, pull ups, barbell push press and a modified pushup using a dumbbell.
"There was no time limit at each station, all reps had to be completed until the team moves on to the next and all stations had to be completed three times," Connors added.
As this is the first competition for Dark Horse NCOs this year, the challenge afforded participating Soldiers to get to know each other.
"It is good to get NCOs together as they take pride in their troops but respect the other teams and get to know them," Connors explained.
Sgt. 1st Class Celester Harrison, Dark Horse senior medic, agreed with Connors saying, "The Dark Horse NCO corps is great … we work together and keep morale high."
As with any competition, there are physical struggles that may affect the outcome, Connors stated. So to help balance the physical stress the five stations were developed to ensure different muscle groups were worked, helping offset a bodies weaker area.
"A 'whole body concept' is encompassed within the challenge itself," Connors stated.
Harrison liked the physical challenge but really enjoyed the competitive nature of it.
"(The challenge) was great. I would love to see more competitors and expand the route to keep mentally pushing the competitors," Harrison, who's from Brooklyn, N.Y., added.
As one of the oldest Soldiers in Dark Horse, Harrison, 41, expressed that pushing himself in the challenge was necessary; it helps exemplify the NCO physical training at its best.
"Our NCO physical training program has grown," Sgt. 1st Class Marvin Dawson, a platoon leader with Dark Horses' Charlie Troop, said. "This challenge show how we as leaders have developed, which is how our Soldiers see us, and now we look forward to developing them."
Connors had nothing but great things to say about the remarks from the participants. "They all seemed to enjoy themselves and loved the fact the competition was between troops," Connors said. No second challenge is scheduled at this time.
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