599th Trans. Bde. scores touchdown with ultimate football for unit PT

By Donna Klapakis, SDDCJuly 12, 2017

599th Ultimate Football
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Team captains, Navy Cmdr. Ned Swanson, SDDC Naval Reserve Unit Pacific commander, and Air Force Maj. Charles Boler IV, 599th command operations center chief, play rock paper scissors to decide on which team gets the first pass during an ultimate foot... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
599th Ultimate Football
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599th Ultimate Football
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599th Ultimate Football
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Navy Cmdr. Ned Swanson, SDDC Naval Reserve Unit Pacific commander,
makes a catch during an ultimate football game for 599th Transportation
Brigade unit PT on June 28 at Wheeler Army Airfield. NRU Pacific, one of the
599th's subordinate battalions, is... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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599th Ultimate Football
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Air Force Maj. Charles Boler IV, 599th command operations center chief, throws to teammate Sgt. Maj. Lonnie Gabriel, 836th Transportation Battalion senior enlisted advisor, while Navy Cmdr. Ned Swanson, SDDC Naval Reserve Unit Pacific commander, defe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
599th Ultimate Football
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599th Ultimate Football
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WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii -- Army units have a wide latitude in deciding how to conduct physical training.

During his first PT with the unit on June 28, the 599th Transportation Brigade commander, Col. Michael Knapp, had brigade personnel who were on island divide into two teams to play ultimate football.

"This is about team building and communications," said Knapp. "That's what sports are. In ultimate football you have to keep in close communication with your teammates in order to move the ball down the field to be successful. That's why I like it for unit PT."

Department of the Army civilians are also welcome to participate in unit PT at the 599th. Information management specialist Clayton Maciorowski played ultimate football with brigade Soldiers on June 28.

"It's a great chance to have a good time with the people I work with and to get to know them better," said Maciorowski.

"I thought it sounded like fun, and I also kind of miss unit PT," added the former 25th Infantry Division Soldier.

"This event really highlights the special people and uniqueness of the brigade," said Knapp. "We have Airmen, Sailors, Civilians and Soldiers sweating and working together."

Although the game is fast, it is relatively safe. No kicking the ball or body contact is allowed, a player can only take five steps between receiving the ball and handing it off or throwing it to teammates, and a turnover occurs any time a player violates a rule or the ball touches the ground.

"Soldiers should want to get up in the morning to do PT," said Sgt. 1st Class Lynette Smith, 599th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment first sergeant. "This gets Soldiers up in the morning instead of just working a regular nine-to-five job. This gets their mindset ready to deal with the day."

Capt. Mark Richardson, HHD commander, agreed.

"Unit PT is not really about the PT," Richardson said. "It's about building unit cohesion. If soldiers sweat together they come out more cohesive and the morale is better.

"It also makes sure that soldiers are physically fit and have the endurance to undergo the stressful situations they encounter, he added.

"We have to see the soldiers, especially at the beginning and the end of the work week to make sure they are accounted for and everything is OK at home," said Smith.

During the brigade's first ultimate football game, the 599th played Belts vs. No Belts to distinguish teams. The winner was Belts, 9-8.