FORT BENNING, Ga., (Oct. 23, 2013) -- Fort Benning is a long way from Fort Campbell, Ky., but for two Soldiers, coincidence and the newfound love of powerlifting has reunited them in a personal, yet challenging quest.
Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Pierce and Staff Sgt. Gary Brewer aren't strangers, nor are they just two Soldiers who met while pursuing a passion for powerlifting. Although both are instructors, their ties go beyond Fort Benning to a previous assignment at Fort Campbell.
Whether happenstance, or destiny, the two reunited at Fort Benning, but not as a platoon sergeant and a Soldiers, but as athletes in quests to become stronger, healthier and to push themselves to new personal heights.
Pierce, of A Company, 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry, said he began lifting while playing football as a center and defensive end at Estacada High School in Estacada, Ore., and continued lifting throughout college in football at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Ore.
While lifting was a big part of being a football player, Pierce said he continued lifting when he entered the Army.
"Once you start lifting and you start getting stronger, it's addictive," he said. "Every time you lift a little more weight than you had before, you know you're getting stronger … it gives you that much more drive, so then you set your next goal for yourself. It's just almost consuming."
So far, Pierce has set, and passed, many personal goals. In the United States Powerlifting Association's Southeastern Regional Powerlifting Championships Oct. 5 in Lithia Springs, Ga., he set two personal bests in the 275-pound weight class with a lift in the bench press of 347 pounds and 557 pounds in the dead lift. He also bench pressed 347 pounds, and although not a personal best, the three lifts gave him second place in his weight class.
Pierce said the competitive part of the sport is not necessarily him against another opponent, but more him against himself -- and the weights.
"It's definitely me against the weights," he said. "And, you are always competing against yourself. It's all just a way to continue bettering yourself."
Pierce said Army physical fitness training plays a big part in keeping him prepared for training, especially sit ups and push ups, but says maintaining a constant balance with the weight needed to be a good power lifter and staying within Army weight standards takes work and planning, especially when it comes to the running event.
"In the push up and sit up category, it's great, but especially being a bigger guy, it's a constant struggle maintaining a balance with the weight," he said. "It's not like I just can keep lugging my big butt around the track two miles in any reasonable amount of time (if I were heavier). So, there definitely has to be a balance, you just have to find it and maintain it the best you can."
Brewer found his way to competitive powerlifting when he met a familiar face at Fort Benning.
"He (Pierce) was my platoon sergeant at Fort Campbell for a little while," Brewer said. "I PCSed down here and got with him and went to one of his competitions and watched. After that, I decided I wanted to do it."
Brewer, an Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course instructor with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, said since he has been in the Army, he started going to the gym to help him relieve stress, but what drives him is his personal goals.
"I've always been in the gym," he said. "I watched him (Pierce) and seen how strong those other guys were, and I just wanted to get stronger. I want to better myself. I don't care if I place at all, I just want to do better than I did the last time."
Although Brewer played sports in high school, he said he didn't do much lifting, but he still placed second in the Oct. 5 competition in the 242-pound weight class with 392 pounds in the squat, 347 pounds in the bench press and 523 pounds in the dead lift -- all personal bests.
Both Pierce and Brewer said their diets are a major portion of their 10-week preparation for competitions.
"I eat chicken, beans, broccoli and spinach throughout the week," Brewer said. "Chicken and beans is a pretty healthy diet. Most people don't know how healthy beans can be. I have always been a bigger guy, and with the Army weight standards I just kind of keep to that diet."
Pierce said he too has to be careful about his diet, and depending where he is in his training cycle, his intake is different, controlled and a little more scientific.
"My carb intake varies mostly," Pierce said. "The more carbs I eat, obviously, the more weight I am going to gain but I am going to get stronger, as well. My protein intake has to stay high, regardless, or I am going to start getting weaker -- it's really a delicate thing."
Experience, diets and workouts aside, both said they have gotten immense help from their coach, David Ramsey.
"Gary actually introduced me to him," Pierce said. "He's been around the sport for years and he is very knowledgeable. Even with the little things like put some chalk on your knee sleeves or showing you how to cut two inches off a squat. Just having someone watch you with all that experience and give you advice, such as keep your chest up just a little bit and tuck your chin in on squats -- just little things like that that he can cue you in on -- it will make a big difference."
While Brewer jokingly said he would love to beat his former platoon sergeant, both said they don't participate in the sport for the medals or the accolades. Both point to a higher calling -- being the best person they can be by challenging themselves to achieve personal goals -- one step at a time, one lift at a time and one pound at a time.
In all, it is them against themselves, and the weights.
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