LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- On Wednesday, September 11th, Soldiers from the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade, headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, conducted the Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard Memorial Workout of the Day (WOD) at Tactical Base Gamberi.
Named after Army Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Bolyard, killed in September of 2018 supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel, the event remembers and honors those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Participants worked in teams to complete a rigorous physical fitness session.
"This WOD was not only dedicated to Command Sgt. Maj. Bolyard but also represented the 2,977 people who passed away on September 11, 2001," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Koppenhaver, a Senior Operations Advisor for Team 2121, 2nd SFAB, and organizer of the event. "We did today's WOD for the people who can't."
Teams completed the event, which consisted of seven exercises: deadlifts, lunges, air squats, pushups, mountain climbers, and two rounds of burpee pullups. Each exercise was followed by a 400-meter equipment carry. The participants wore a military issued protective vest with ballistic plates while performing the exercises.
"Though there were times when I wanted to slow down or quit, I knew that I couldn't because my teammates wouldn't quit," said Staff Sgt. Michael Carver, an Intelligence Analyst Advisor from Team 2100, 2nd SFAB.
Carver stated, the 9/11 WOD built teamwork amongst the participants while providing everyone something to focus on during their remembrance of September 11th and fallen Soldiers.
In accordance with the Warrior Ethos, Soldiers will never leave a fallen comrade, competitors could not proceed to the next exercise until every member of the team completed his or her repetitions.
"Seeing the competitors and teams completing the workout today was awesome," said Koppenhaver. "Watching each participant pushing their bodies to the limit and teams working together to meet an end state - that is how we remember Command Sgt. Maj. Bolyard and September 11th."
"It is important to keep alive the spirits of those we lost," said Sgt. Kyren Harper, a Radiology Specialist with 6th BN, 2nd SFAB. "A small act of kindness, a team workout, or even just a moment of silence together can put things into perspective of how strong of a country we are especially when we come together."
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