MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. --
More than 100 Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 showed
their skills and tested their endurance during the squadron’s inaugural Ironman
Challenge here, July 2.
Competitors negotiated obstacles during the four-mile
endurance race as a way to increase their physical endurance. The course was
comprised of a one-mile sandbag carry, followed by multiple levels of stacked logs
and wall obstacles.
The course was a different form of physical training
than what the Marines are used to participating in, according to Staff Sgt.
Matthew A. Lee, the MWSS-274 operations training chief and range safety officer
for the event.
“It is good for the Marines to test themselves
physically in various ways,” said Lee. “This is the Marines’ opportunity to
push themselves and to show the squadron their capabilities.”
Cpl. Francisco Garciareyes and Cpl. Natalie Decamp
received recognition for being the first male and female participants to
successfully finish the course.
“Marines should always maintain high standards no
matter what their military occupational specialty is,” said Garciareyes. “They
must always rely on character, physical and mental discipline to overcome any
obstacle.”
According to Garciareyes, the Ironman Challenge
motivated and pushed the Marines to challenge each other and brought them together
while building camaraderie.