FORT SILL, Okla., Sept. 8, 2016 -- A dozen 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery "Deep Strike" Soldiers participated in Viking Challenge -- a grueling strength crucible Sept. 1, at the Fires Fitness Center and battalion headquarters. It was the first in a series of challenges by the battalion, which allowed Soldiers to showcase their abilities in physical fitness, as well as to stress combat physical training. Future challenges will include an emphasis on endurance, agility, and speed, said Lt. Col. Damon Wells, 2-20th FA commander.
"The overall goal is to test our extreme combat fitness," Wells said. One of the tenets of Army physical fitness training is that it is progressive, and Wells said he wanted his Soldiers to train up for the Viking Challenge.
Competitor 1st Lt. Katrina Nathaniel, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery executive officer, ran collegiate track and has been bodybuilding for six years. She said she saw the challenge as a motivational event, and a break from regular physical training (PT).
"This is a great thing. We've never done anything like this so everyone is excited," she said. "I'm hoping we set the standard for more Soldiers to do it later on."
There were six events that the Soldiers had to complete within a time limit/and or with minimum repetitions. Many of the weight lifting events were with 220-pound weights, a spin on 2-20th FA. The events were:
1-mile run within eight minutes.
12 pullup repetitions within one minute.
11 bench presses of 220 pounds within one minute.
22 deadlifts of 220 pounds within one minute.
Farmer's carry of 110-pound weights per hand for 22 meters.
12 tire flips within five minutes.
Competitor 1st Lt. Nathan Denig said strength training was his forté in physical fitness. He said the challenge was a team-building exercise for Soldiers, too.
"It totally motivates them and brings them together and gives them an opportunity to distinguish themselves," said Denig, who is a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear officer. "Someone who may not be the best at PMCSing (preventive maintenance checks and services) their truck might just be a crazy-strong brute who can come here and throw weights around."
Numerous Soldiers assisted with the challenge as graders, spotters and timers at various events. Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Smith, a communications noncommissioned officer, served as a grader ensuring the exercises were performed properly, and if not, correcting the Soldier and having them restart.
"It's tough and challenging and pushing them, but some of them are doing really good," he said.
If a competitor was unable to met the requirements of an event they couldn't drop out of the competition, but moved on to the next event.
2-20th FA Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Ball, went around the stations encouraging the participants. He said the challenge emphasized combat physical fitness, which the Army chief of staff is mandating.
"Basically, what we're doing is combat-focused PT: to be able to jump out of a vehicle, to do quick sprints, to lift things out of the way," Ball said.
The challenge ended with tire flips at battalion headquarters where the entire battalion was performing PT. The battalion cheered on the competitors for the finalé. Five Soldiers successfully completed the challenge and were awarded a black ax decal which was affixed to their physical training belt by the battalion commander.
"Now they will be recognized every time they are doing PT as someone who has completed this challenge," Wells said. "In addition, they're going to be awarded the Army Achievement Medal because this challenge wasn't something everyone can do. Finishing actually means something."
Viking Challenge competitors
Capt. Jimmie Zilliner
1st Lt. Nathan Denig
1st Lt. Peter Howard
*1st Lt. Katrina Nathaniel
Staff Sgt. Michael Duran
*Sgt. Garrett Murphy
Spc. Glenn Buckless
*Spc. Eric Kidwell
Spc. Taylor Nolte
*Spc. William Parker
*Spc. Michael Singleton
Pfc. Ru'Drian Hines
* denotes completion of the challenge.
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