CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Soldiers lifted more than 25,000 pounds of molded iron Sunday, July 6 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation-sponsored 1,000-Pound Club competition at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Competitors chalked up their hands and donned their headphones to break personal bests and see who among them could raise the most weight.
"The goal is simply to pick up heavy things and put 'em back down," said Staff Sgt. Steven Berry, an infantryman with Area Support Group Kuwait.
Berry, an Atlanta native, has been lifting heavily since his first deployment in 2008. He competed in the heavyweight division Sunday against six other herculean athletes weighing 250 pounds or greater.
"I'm at a bit of a disadvantage today; I weighed in at 250," Berry said. "Most of these guys have about 30 pounds on me."
Despite a weight disadvantage, Berry said he was well prepared for the competition.
"I'm in the gym seven days a week here in Kuwait," he said. "There's plenty of time here and no distractions."
Berry and the other athletes lifted in three events: the bench press, the squat and the deadlift. The combined total weight of their three events had to reach 1,000 pounds for males and 500 pounds for females in order to gain entry to the club and claim an exclusive club t-shirt.
As the competition progressed, many Soldiers focused on beating their personal max, and many of them succeeded.
"There are some strong guys here and they're going to push their limits," said Ricky Gravely, powerlifting judge and safety expert for the competition.
Gravely, a retired sergeant major and former artilleryman, is an advocate for regular strength training in the military.
"I think strength training should be done at minimum two-to-three times a week," he said. "Many of the tasks Soldiers do will require them to lift heavy weight, and their vest alone weighs 50 pounds."
Gravely wants to see more events that focus on strength training. In support of the cause, he donated the t-shirts for the 1,000-Pound Club competition.
"Every time there is an event, Soldiers turn out for these shirts whether it's a [five-kilometer or ten-kilometer] run," he said. "The muscle heads deserve shirts too."
From Gravely's perspective, physical fitness in general has become too focused on weight-loss.
"I think a lot of events and [physical training] programs are geared more towards cardio, but strength is a big part of fitness, too," he said. "These guys here today are the Soldiers you'll be looking for to drag you to safety if you become a casualty. They put the 'strong' in Army Strong."
After a long day of picking up heavy things and putting them back down, many of the male competitors received the 1,000-Pound Club shirts and a 500-Pound Club shirt for the heavy-lifting females.
Berry easily met the criteria, lifting a total of more than 1,200 pounds. Although he enjoyed the challenge, he doesn't plan on taking a rest day anytime soon.
"Getting to the gym is part of my daily routine," he said. "I'm usually there about three-hours a day."
Berry said he participates in unit PT but benefits more from his gym time, not just physically, but mentally as well.
"It's a stress relief," he said. "Once you're in the routine it definitely makes the time go by faster."
Gravely encourages those who wish to join the 1,000-Pound Club to start training now. For those who wish to prepare, the Zone 1 Fitness Center is open 24 hours.
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