thedrifter
08-14-05, 11:42 AM
Workout preps Navy, Marine recruits
BY RUTH L. TISDALE
STAFF WRITER
August 14, 2005
Despite a hot and humid day, 300 prospective Marine and Navy recruits gathered in East Meadow Park yesterday and competed for bragging rights in the first Navy and Marine Challenge on Long Island.
The challenge, which also will be held on Aug. 27 on the Fort Hamilton army base in Brooklyn, is part of the military's delayed-entry program that helps prepare recruits for boot camp.
"We start recruiting a person for the program the summer of their senior year," said Marine Staff Sgt. Ramses Cerdas, adding that all Marine recruits must participate in the program before they enter boot camp. "Every Saturday we work with them to make sure that they are ready."
Staff Sgt. Amanda Hay said the program began in 1973 after the end of the military draft as a way to bridge the gap between a person's enlistment and their departure for basic training.
"We started the challenge as a way to break up the monotony of the program," Hay said.
Cerdas said the challenge teaches recruits how to work as a team and boosts their morale.
"Competing against each other builds their motivation," Cerdas said. "This gives them a chance to see what other people are willing to do to join other military branches."
Navy and Marine recruits competed against each other in a tug-of-war, push ups, crunches and sprints.
Sweating profusely, recruit Nick Mulzoff, who has been in the program for one year, said the event provides a way for older recruits to teach those just entering the program.
"It's sometimes frustrating that they don't know what they're doing," said Mulzoff, 18, of Huntington, who will be leaving for basic training at the end of the month. "It's our job to teach them how to do it right."
While the Marines won the overall event, Navy recruiter Melissa Lipscomb said the challenge is important in establishing a relationship between Navy and Marine personnel.
"We feel it's important because the Navy and Marines have interaction in the fleet and it's good to develop that now," Lipscomb said.
Ellie
BY RUTH L. TISDALE
STAFF WRITER
August 14, 2005
Despite a hot and humid day, 300 prospective Marine and Navy recruits gathered in East Meadow Park yesterday and competed for bragging rights in the first Navy and Marine Challenge on Long Island.
The challenge, which also will be held on Aug. 27 on the Fort Hamilton army base in Brooklyn, is part of the military's delayed-entry program that helps prepare recruits for boot camp.
"We start recruiting a person for the program the summer of their senior year," said Marine Staff Sgt. Ramses Cerdas, adding that all Marine recruits must participate in the program before they enter boot camp. "Every Saturday we work with them to make sure that they are ready."
Staff Sgt. Amanda Hay said the program began in 1973 after the end of the military draft as a way to bridge the gap between a person's enlistment and their departure for basic training.
"We started the challenge as a way to break up the monotony of the program," Hay said.
Cerdas said the challenge teaches recruits how to work as a team and boosts their morale.
"Competing against each other builds their motivation," Cerdas said. "This gives them a chance to see what other people are willing to do to join other military branches."
Navy and Marine recruits competed against each other in a tug-of-war, push ups, crunches and sprints.
Sweating profusely, recruit Nick Mulzoff, who has been in the program for one year, said the event provides a way for older recruits to teach those just entering the program.
"It's sometimes frustrating that they don't know what they're doing," said Mulzoff, 18, of Huntington, who will be leaving for basic training at the end of the month. "It's our job to teach them how to do it right."
While the Marines won the overall event, Navy recruiter Melissa Lipscomb said the challenge is important in establishing a relationship between Navy and Marine personnel.
"We feel it's important because the Navy and Marines have interaction in the fleet and it's good to develop that now," Lipscomb said.
Ellie