All I did was the pencil sketch that was posted earlier. Kyle took it from there to produce the above image. I enjoy collaborative art because when the collaboration is a good one, it’s like opening a birthday present when the final art is unveiled.
Month: October 2008
Fitness Platoon – Oct 29, 2008
1 mile of hills
18 minutes of lower body and abdominal calisthenics (boot beaters, star jumps, windmills, lunges, crunches, flutter kicks and stretches)
1 mile of hills
18 minutes of lower body and abdominal calisthenics (boot beaters, star jumps, windmills, lunges, crunches, flutter kicks and stretches)
No camera again which is a shame since the leaves are at their peak. The woods are a fireworks finale frozen in time. It’s enough to take one’s mind off the hills . . . almost.
I had a doctor’s appointment today and the nurse said my blood pressure is really good, so we must be doing something right.
7th Comm Bn Unit Logo
Fitness Platoon – Oct 27, 2008
4.5 mile run
Abs by Gunny (2 minutes of crunches, 1 minute of crunches, 30 seconds of crunches, 1 minute of assisted leg-lifts, 15 atomic sit ups, 1 minute of ins and outs)
20 minutes of razzle dazzle and Frisbee football
A reenactment of Taylor finishing the run. He is too fast for me to actually beat in and take his picture so Taylor did 4.6 miles. Way to take .1 mile for the blog!
We’ve haven’t been doing many long runs, so we’ve decided to add some distance to the runs on Monday. Even though the standard for the initial strength test that poolies train for is 1.5 miles, it sure is easier to run 1.5 miles when you’ve been training for 4.5 miles.
It’s starting to get cold, so we’re discussing strategies for running in the winter. It’s probable that we’ll use the track at the college, which is supposedly kept clear. Snow and ice are probably a good month and a half off, but it pays to plan ahead.
Fitness Platoon’s Junto – Oct 24, 2008
“The Nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”
-Thucydides
The Fitness Platoon has decided to concentrate on the often neglected body part: The brain.
We have started a study group. Those who have enough time before shipping to boot camp have decided to study for the History of the United States I CLEP Exam. Most colleges will give 3 credits for passing the exam, so it’s an opportunity for those waiting for their ship date to get some credits out of the way before going to boot camp.
More importantly, those in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) will gain good study habits and learn a valuable strategy for amassing college credits while they’re on active duty. This may pave the way toward officer programs if they like, make them better Marines, and it will ease their transition back into civilian life, be it in four or forty years. It’s something they can use even on deployments, so long as they have room for a book or two.
You don’t have to be in the military to use this strategy. If anyone is interested, the books we’re using can be found on the following lens: link
The CLEP resources for the recruiting office were provided for by the Semper Fi House: link
This is all done in the spirit of Benjamin Franklin’s Junto (link), a group of tradesmen that Franklin pulled together for the purpose of mutual improvement. There are other models to follow, of course, to include Albert Einstein’s Olympia Academy (link) and Frederick Douglass’s Baltimore Mental Improvement Society. Benjamin Franklin’s Junto is the prototype though, so we will name our group after his.
Fitness Platoon – Oct 24, 2008
Initial Strength Test:
1. 5 mile run
Max set of pull-ups (male) Flexed arm hang for time (female)
Max crunches in 2 minutes
Brady getting his inaugural pull-ups.
We’ve got a lot of different faces since last month’s IST. Brady, Cory, Andrew and Travis have all joined us in the last month. Today’s test gives them a baseline for their improvement. Tom, who has been with the group for the full 18 weeks, continues to make progress, adding another 10 pounds of weight loss. That brings his total weight loss to 40 pounds. Yours truly shed 5 pounds just prior to joining the group and 15 pounds since. Consistency is the key to improvement, and the support of the group has been key to consistency.
Fitness Platoon – Oct 22, 2008
45 minutes of Frisbee football
45 minutes of razzle dazzle
I keep forgetting my camera so the sketches continue.
Tomorrow is the initial strength test and the end of week 18.
MACS-2 DET C Unit T-shirt logo
I drew the scorpion and Kyle Tobin did the rest.
Infantry Squad Leaders Course Sketch
Fitness Platoon – Oct 20, 2008
45 minutes of Frisbee football
45 minutes of razzle dazzle
Abs by Gunny:
2 minutes of crunches
1 minute of crunches
30 seconds of crunches
1 minute of flutter kicks
30 seconds of flutter kicks
1 minute of unassisted leg lifts
1 minute of ins and outs
I forgot the camera again, but from my recollection, Frisbee football looked something like the above sketch.
Yesterday was the start of week 18 of the group. This is our easy week so we’ll play a lot of sports this week and do an initial strength test on Friday to gauge our progress. Today was also JP’s last day of PT with the group as he is headed off to Parris Island in the next seven days. Good luck JP!
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