CAMP HOVEY - Soldiers from units throughout Warrior Country came to the Camp Hovey obstacle course, also known as the confidence course, to compete in the second annual Family, Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Obstacle Course Challenge April 17. The event had more than 50 competitors participate in three different categories of the competition: individual men's, individual women's and the men's team event.
The competition began with a safety briefing followed by an explanation of the course from FMWR personnel. Due to safety restrictions, FMWR broke the obstacle course into five different events, the confidence climb, tough one, low belly over, inclining wall, and the weaver.
When the starting whistle blew, contestants sprinted to the confidence climb, a giant ladder where the participant climbed up on one side and down the other, sprinting to the tough one.
The tough one, the obstacle where participants were allowed to try twice before being disqualified, gave the most problems because the rope used for contestants to pull themselves over the top was an excruciating upper body work, making it difficult to quickly climb to the top.
Once competitors reached the top of the tough one, they had to pull themselves up and reach the other side of the obstacle, without falling in the net below, and then climb down using the rope.
The third task of the obstacle course, the inclining wall, involved competitors hopping over a wall by any means necessary before reaching the low belly over, a very similar obstacle to the inclining wall where participants had to jump over a log hoisted in air before moving on to the last event. The weaver, one of the most deceiving obstacles, had competitors climbing to the top and back down before crossing the finish line.
"I am infantry and we do everything as a team which is why I didn't want to compete in the individual competition because it's about the team," said Pfc. Brett Gordon, A Company 1-72 2nd Infantry Division gunner. "The rope was pretty thick and it gave me some difficulties but my teammates were great pushing me and motivating me to climb up the rope."
After everyone competed in the men's competition, Karen Moore, Child Youth School Services, and 2nd Lt. Lynette Byars, B Company 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, went head to head against each other on the obstacle course. Byars quickly took an advantage over Moore with a fast finish over the confidence climb, but struggled to climb on the tough one. Moore then hung onto the rope before letting go and sitting on the net before climbing back up to the top of the tough one. Byars, who was fatigued from the tough one was not able to catch up to Moore and lost to Moore with a time of 6:42. Moore finished first at 5:19.
Competitors who placed from 3 to 1 were awarded trophies and points for their unit in the commander's cup race including each of the four members of the men's and women's team, an exciting part of the day where teamwork was needed during the competition to complete the course.
"I had a great time participating in this event today," said Pfc. Jamie Blocker, A Company 302nd Brigade Support Battalion, who finished 1 in the men's individual open event at 1:21.
Social Sharing