Headquarters Marines compete for special chance to fly away on an F/A-18
6/17/2009
By
Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez
,
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan
Wearing combat utility uniforms and flak jackets, athletes assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competed in a Physical Fitness Test, Combat Fitness Test, a run through an obstacle course and more painful activities June 16.
The grand prize: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride in the backseat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment.
“It was always a dream of mine that I thought would never come true,” said Staff Sgt. Dominique G. Laboy, Super PFT winner and enlisted head of the passenger section at the air terminal.
“When I was a kid, I always dreamed of becoming a pilot. You know, I would spread my arms and act like I was flying. Just thinking of that one chance to fly for real kept me going throughout the whole competition.”
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program black belt instructor-trainer attributed his win to mental bearing alone.
“I always stay combat ready and that’s the key to winning these things,” he said. “You never know when they’re going to come up with these challenges and you always have to be ready to jump on them. It’s that fighter spirit.”
Laboy finished with the highest score among competitors, but other athletes were hot on his trail.
Lance Cpl. Shawn R. Litchfield, a military policeman with the K-9 section, came in second place with a close score and some torn up heels from his new Danner boots.
Litchfield said after completing the events, “I thought wearing new boots would be more comfortable — apparently not. But, I love the challenge and I love coming out here to represent my section. Now, it’s time to go out and get some sushi.”
Litchfield said he takes personal pleasure in competing in each athletic challenge that presents itself, having completed at least seven marathons in his tour here.
For his performance, Lt. Col. Tray J. Ardese, the squadron’s commanding officer, promised the Marine a gold liberty card and more challenging competitions in the future.
“Stay in shape and be ready. There’s going to be more of them coming up,” said Ardese.
|
 
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Staff Sgt. Dominique G. Laboy, Super PFT winner and enlisted head of the passenger section at the air terminal here, raises his chin to complete 17 pull-ups while wearing a flak jacket and combat utility uniform during the Super Physical Fitness Test put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron June 17. Laboy was the overall winner of the competition, which consisted of a PFT, Combat Fitness Test, a run through an obstacle course and other physical feats in a two-hour timeframe., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 12:20 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Cpl. Zachary H. Lama attemps a few last crunches while wearing a flak jacket during the Super Physical Fitness Test put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron June 17. Under normal circumstances, Lama said he would never have ran out of time at 67 crunches., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 12:27 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Competitors in the Super Physical Fitness Test take off for a three-mile run while wearing flak jackets and the combat utility uniform on the seawall here June 17. The race, put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, aimed to find the Marine with the most physical and mental stamina for a chance to ride in the backseat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 12:36 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Cpl. Alex H. Potter works to stay ahead of Lance Cpl. Zachary H. Lama in the last leg of the three-mile run on the seawall here during the Super Physical Fitness Test put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron June 17. The Marines were competing for a chance to ride in the backseat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:06 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Corporals Zachary H. Lama (right) and Shawn R. Litchfield, both Super PFT competitors, are neck and neck at a double-bar obstacle during the Super Physical Fitness Test put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron June 17. The course was designed with no rest time in between events, challenging the Marines’ physical and mental stamina for a chance to ride in the back seat of an F/A-18 fighter jet., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:18 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Bent from exhaustion, Lance Cpl. Richard P. Keller, a competitor in the Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Super Physical Fitness Test, prepares to mount a double-bar obstacle at the course near Ironworks Gym here June 17. The Super PFT aimed to find the Marine with the most physical and mental stamina for a chance to ride in the backseat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:19 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Cpl. Donald F. Marshall, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Super Physical Fitness Test competitor, dismounts one obstacle during the two-hour competition June 17. Marshall and other competitors ran a PFT, Combat Fitness Test, a run through an obstacle course and other physical feats while wearing a flak jacket and combat utility uniform for a special chance to ride in the back seat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:24 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Cpl. Donald F. Marshall, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron Super Physical Fitness Test competitor, struggles to hold two 30-lb. ammunition cans on his shoulders as he walks from the obstacle course near Ironworks Gym to the Penny Lake athletic fields here (a distance of nearly a mile) to then complete a Combat Fitness Test June 17. Marshall was competing for a chance to ride in the back seat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:36 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Lance Cpl. Richard P. Keller struggles to lift a 30-lb. ammunition can above his head during the Super Physical Fitness Test put on by Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron June 17. Keller and other competitors completed a PFT, Combat Fitness Test, a run through an obstacle course and other physical feats while wearing a flak jacket and combat utility uniform for a special chance to ride in the back seat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 1:45 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan-Staff Sgt. Dominique G. Laboy picks up Lance Cpl. Justin W. Wiemers during the buddy drag portion of the Combat Fitness Test at the Penny Lake athletic fields here June 17. The two were competing in the Super Physical Fitness Test, which required them to run a number of different courses wearing a flak jacket and combat utility uniform for a special chance to ride in the back seat of an F/A-18 fighter jet in an upcoming deployment., Cpl. Kyle T. Ramirez, 6/17/2009 2:05 PM
|