When a partially cloud-covered June 15 sunrise crept over the eastern horizon, more than 35 Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall Marines were met by soggy ground and stifling humidity.
But the meteorological conditions for a physical training mission at the PT field on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall were insignificant when the group was briefed about Medal of Honor recipient Lance Cpl. William Kyle Carpenter.
"We're integrating some PT to show the Marines some of the obstacles Corporal Carpenter had to overcome to get his Medal of Honor," said PT leader Marine Cpl. Joshua Bettis. "We have various stations where Marines will be partnered up by squad, and they will be using teamwork."
As an automatic rifleman during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Carpenter risked his life in 2010 by taking the brunt of a detonated hand grenade, shielding a fellow Marine from the blast. He was severely wounded but saved the lives of other Marines.
The PT participants alternated between four stations which included low crawl exercises, ammo box resupply runs, fireman's carry sprints and the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). During a five-minute time period, Marines endured two and a half minutes of running and crawling followed by two and a half minutes of a MCMAP drill.
"Just like with Corporal Carpenter [endured in battle], there's going to be a lot of movement under high stress, a lot of yelling and a lot of pressure on the Marines," Bettis said. "We understand the Marines are going to be tired; they're going to be moving constantly. We want to make sure their form and technique are proper."
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