thedrifter
12-27-03, 09:45 AM
A Marine Corps Tug of War
Parris Island face-off of strength and technique ends in battalion bonding
Published Tue, Dec 23, 2003
By MICHAEL KERR
Gazette staff writer
More by Michael Kerr
With fellow Marines screaming and cheering, members of Parris Island's Headquarters Company and Service Company squared off to determine the victors of a Headquarters and Service Battalion civil war.
The afternoon of Dec. 16 was filled with events and competition between the two companies -- fireman's carries, wheel barrow races -- but in the end, it all came down to the test of strength and technique known, in military terms, as the tug-of-war.
With Service Company holding a narrow lead of six points, the combatants prepared for three pulls. The first pull would be worth five points, the second three points and the final pull two points.
Headquarters Company had to win each of the first two pulls, or it would be mathematically eliminated from winning the overall contest.
It did, taking a slim two point lead.
Service had to win to force a tie and a final, winner-take-all pull. A win by Headquarters would win the entire event for the company.
Both sides leapt from the ground and grabbed the rope. Grunting and pulling, neither side would relent and the rope stayed put in between the warring companies.
"Pull! Pull! Pull!" fellow Marines screamed from the sidelines as each team gave their all, refusing to relent.
Finally, something gave, and Headquarters Company pulled the center of the rope to its side, securing the battle, and winning the war.
"It went right down to intestinal fortitude and the last event," Capt. Brad Anderson, Headquarters Company Commander told his team after the victory. "It was teamwork that brought us together at the very end."
Fun and games
Headquarters Company and Service Company came together on a crisp afternoon last week aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for a day full of Marine Corps bonding, competition, and fun and games.
The two teams raced through an obstacle course, ran sprints carrying teammates on their shoulders, disassembled and reassembled M-16 assault rifles as quickly as possible, and competed in several other challenges, working as a team toward the common good.
"For entertainment value alone, the 'Dizzy Izzy' was worth the price of admission," Col. George Amland, the battalion's commanding officer told his Marines at the end of the day.
That particular event challenged each Marine's speed, determination and equilibrium, forcing them to lean over, place their foreheads on the end of a baseball bat and spin 'round and 'round before sprinting across a field.
Some staggered. Some ran diagonally. Some fell down only to get right back up, fall back down again and get back up. But in the end, everyone finished the race, laughing and cheering one another the whole way through.
"The 'Dizzy Izzy' probably was the most entertaining," Capt. Branden Bailey, Service Company Commander, said, with a smile after the events had come to an end. "It was fun when it came down to the last event to finally decide it."
But throughout the fun and games of the day's event, both company's were definitely taking the point standings seriously, and both wanted to walk away with the bragging rights, Amland said midway through the competition.
"Oh, they're competing," he said. "When we get to the awards there's going to be a lot of 'Ooo-Rahing.'"
Battalion bonding
As the event came to a close last week, Amland told his Marines that although Headquarters Company earned a few more points during the day's competitions, the battalion has a whole was the real winner.
Broken into the two companies and various units, the majority of the battalion's Marines don't get to see each one another too often, Amland said earlier in the day.
"(The event) is to keep that bond of a larger organization and battalion idea alive," Amland said. "Sometimes its difficult to provide opportunities to get people out of the office cubicle and do some Marine Corps bonding."
Amland tries to provide at least one opportunity per month for his entire battalion to get together, whether it be for a run, a close-quarter drill or an event like last week's, he said.
Next month, the battalion will head out to the rifle range together, he said.
For events such as last week's competition, Amland sets up the event and makes it available to his Marines, providing enough room for at least 100 people to participate.
"We never have any trouble getting (the spots) filled up," he said.
Although both companies competed hard all afternoon, the event is truly more about the battalion than it is either team, Anderson said.
"A field meet is designed for camaraderie," he said. "Everybody walks away a winner."
And the sort of camaraderie exemplified by the meet is something special throughout the Corps, he said.
"That goes across company lines and battalion lines," Anderson said. "That's depot wide and, really, Marine Corps wide."
Contact Michael Kerr at 986-5539 or mkerr@beaufortgazette.com.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day2-122303.jpg
Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Lance Cpl. Oscar Rivera carries Pfc. Clinton Ford during the fireman's carry. Parris Island's Headquarters Company and Service Company came together last week for a day of Marine Corps bonding, competition, and fun and games.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day,-1.jpg
Photos Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Cpl. James Bryson of the Parris Island armory puts a rifle back together during the M-16 relay.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day,-3.jpg
Photos Bob Sofaly/Gazette
When the Marines decided the utilith poles were at the wrong field, they simply carried it a couple of blocks to where it needed to be. Here Cpl. Kevin Padilla of Head Quarters Service Co. leads his team mates with pole in tow
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/military/story/3147269p-2845138c.html
The Drifter
:marine:
Parris Island face-off of strength and technique ends in battalion bonding
Published Tue, Dec 23, 2003
By MICHAEL KERR
Gazette staff writer
More by Michael Kerr
With fellow Marines screaming and cheering, members of Parris Island's Headquarters Company and Service Company squared off to determine the victors of a Headquarters and Service Battalion civil war.
The afternoon of Dec. 16 was filled with events and competition between the two companies -- fireman's carries, wheel barrow races -- but in the end, it all came down to the test of strength and technique known, in military terms, as the tug-of-war.
With Service Company holding a narrow lead of six points, the combatants prepared for three pulls. The first pull would be worth five points, the second three points and the final pull two points.
Headquarters Company had to win each of the first two pulls, or it would be mathematically eliminated from winning the overall contest.
It did, taking a slim two point lead.
Service had to win to force a tie and a final, winner-take-all pull. A win by Headquarters would win the entire event for the company.
Both sides leapt from the ground and grabbed the rope. Grunting and pulling, neither side would relent and the rope stayed put in between the warring companies.
"Pull! Pull! Pull!" fellow Marines screamed from the sidelines as each team gave their all, refusing to relent.
Finally, something gave, and Headquarters Company pulled the center of the rope to its side, securing the battle, and winning the war.
"It went right down to intestinal fortitude and the last event," Capt. Brad Anderson, Headquarters Company Commander told his team after the victory. "It was teamwork that brought us together at the very end."
Fun and games
Headquarters Company and Service Company came together on a crisp afternoon last week aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island for a day full of Marine Corps bonding, competition, and fun and games.
The two teams raced through an obstacle course, ran sprints carrying teammates on their shoulders, disassembled and reassembled M-16 assault rifles as quickly as possible, and competed in several other challenges, working as a team toward the common good.
"For entertainment value alone, the 'Dizzy Izzy' was worth the price of admission," Col. George Amland, the battalion's commanding officer told his Marines at the end of the day.
That particular event challenged each Marine's speed, determination and equilibrium, forcing them to lean over, place their foreheads on the end of a baseball bat and spin 'round and 'round before sprinting across a field.
Some staggered. Some ran diagonally. Some fell down only to get right back up, fall back down again and get back up. But in the end, everyone finished the race, laughing and cheering one another the whole way through.
"The 'Dizzy Izzy' probably was the most entertaining," Capt. Branden Bailey, Service Company Commander, said, with a smile after the events had come to an end. "It was fun when it came down to the last event to finally decide it."
But throughout the fun and games of the day's event, both company's were definitely taking the point standings seriously, and both wanted to walk away with the bragging rights, Amland said midway through the competition.
"Oh, they're competing," he said. "When we get to the awards there's going to be a lot of 'Ooo-Rahing.'"
Battalion bonding
As the event came to a close last week, Amland told his Marines that although Headquarters Company earned a few more points during the day's competitions, the battalion has a whole was the real winner.
Broken into the two companies and various units, the majority of the battalion's Marines don't get to see each one another too often, Amland said earlier in the day.
"(The event) is to keep that bond of a larger organization and battalion idea alive," Amland said. "Sometimes its difficult to provide opportunities to get people out of the office cubicle and do some Marine Corps bonding."
Amland tries to provide at least one opportunity per month for his entire battalion to get together, whether it be for a run, a close-quarter drill or an event like last week's, he said.
Next month, the battalion will head out to the rifle range together, he said.
For events such as last week's competition, Amland sets up the event and makes it available to his Marines, providing enough room for at least 100 people to participate.
"We never have any trouble getting (the spots) filled up," he said.
Although both companies competed hard all afternoon, the event is truly more about the battalion than it is either team, Anderson said.
"A field meet is designed for camaraderie," he said. "Everybody walks away a winner."
And the sort of camaraderie exemplified by the meet is something special throughout the Corps, he said.
"That goes across company lines and battalion lines," Anderson said. "That's depot wide and, really, Marine Corps wide."
Contact Michael Kerr at 986-5539 or mkerr@beaufortgazette.com.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day2-122303.jpg
Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Lance Cpl. Oscar Rivera carries Pfc. Clinton Ford during the fireman's carry. Parris Island's Headquarters Company and Service Company came together last week for a day of Marine Corps bonding, competition, and fun and games.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day,-1.jpg
Photos Bob Sofaly/Gazette
Cpl. James Bryson of the Parris Island armory puts a rifle back together during the M-16 relay.
http://beaufortgazette.com/ips_rich_content/MIL-Field-Day,-3.jpg
Photos Bob Sofaly/Gazette
When the Marines decided the utilith poles were at the wrong field, they simply carried it a couple of blocks to where it needed to be. Here Cpl. Kevin Padilla of Head Quarters Service Co. leads his team mates with pole in tow
http://www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/military/story/3147269p-2845138c.html
The Drifter
:marine: