CAMP ALLEN, Norfolk, VA. -- CAMP ALLEN, Norfolk, VA. – Throughout the month of June, Camp Allen’s HITT program coordinator and staff conducted three preliminary events to decide which two Marines would travel to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and represent their units in the Tactical Athlete Challenge. On July 1, two were deemed victorious.
Cpl. Ethan Mawhinney, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force planner with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command Headquarters, and Sgt. Aja’Nel Williams, a supply noncommissioned officer with Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment, will be competing in the Tactical Athlete Competition on behalf of the Marine Corps units based in the Hampton Roads area.
“The purpose of the TAC is to encourage healthy competition among Marines,” said Connie Bechtel, Camp Allen HITT program coordinator. “As well as give bragging rights to the winner- they are the Ultimate Tactical Athlete in the Corps. It also helps promote the HITT program overall, as the events in the competition directly relate to HITT training.”’
The HITT program has four sub-programs within to provide Marines with a well-rounded experience.
“The primary purpose of the HITT program is to enhance operational fitness levels and optimize combat readiness and resiliency for the active-duty and reserve Marine,” said Bechtel.
The four groups are Athlete, Warrior, Combat and Reload. Marines can participate in or develop workouts that cater to the development of speed and agility, body control, explosive power, endurance, and finally, recovery.
The preliminary competition was built around workouts developed in the HITT program. Candidates were required to complete a series of events while being monitored by a HITT coordinator. Their ultimate goal was not merely to finish the event, but achieve the fastest time possible.
During the competition, two male competitors stood out. Maj. Jared Towles, a company commander with Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment, and Mawhinney ended up battling one another for the opportunity to compete at the national competition.
During the first event, six metrics are measured. These events focus on speed, agility and strength.
“Things were very close,” said Bechtel. “Towles and Mawhinney finished within hundredths of a second of each other on the cone drills. They were two inches apart on the broad jump. Towles won the medicine ball throw by more than six inches.”
The second event, a 400-yard tactical shuttle, proved to be the most physically demanding event for both Mawhinney and Towles.
During this event, competitors had to complete four 100-yard dashes with either kettlebells, ammo cans or sand bags in hand or overhead.
According to Towles, the double-kettlebell overhead lunges were the hardest part. His shoulder stability was tested during this event.
However, Mawhinney’s mindset, a seek-and-destroy mentality, proved vital during this portion of the event.
“The speed and agility events are fairly quick,” said Mawhinney. “The 400-yard (Tactical Shuttle) involved a lot of running with weights and a few exercises I had never done before. It was a kicker in power endurance.”
Mawhinney finished with a time nearly two minutes faster than the closest competitor.
The third and final event was the Kettlebell-Burpee challenge. Competitors started with 10 kettlebell swings followed by one burpee. After every set of 10 kettlebell swings, they would add another burpee, until they finished their final set of 10 burpees. The third event added up to 100 kettlebell swings with a 24-kilogram kettlebell and 55 burpees.
“The burpee-kettlebell ladder is just about mindset,” said Mawhinney.
Both competitors were happy to have the opportunity to compete and Towles added that he would like to see more Marines involved next year.
Mawhinney and Williams are scheduled to travel to MCAS Miramar in August to compete in the national HITT event against other regional qualifiers around the Marine Corps.
For more information on the HITT program, HITT trainer classes, or workouts, contact your local program coordinator.