MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- As part of this year’s “Making Spirits Bright” campaign, Marine Corps Community Services Semper Fit hosted “The Nightmare before Christmas Fear Factor Challenge,” at the IronWorks Gym for active duty service members, Friday.
“We wanted to do something fun for the active duty military who can’t go home to see their families,” said Tracy D. Morgan, MCCS IronWorks Gym fitness coordinator and native of Mesquite, Texas. “I’m a big fan of the “Fear Factor” show on TV and I thought it would be a good idea to have our own little Fear Factor here.”
While the event clearly couldn’t keep par with the actual television show for safety reasons, Marines were still able to have a good time.
“Of course it can’t be as extreme as the real show, but it will still be fun. We host events like these to get people into the Christmas spirit and just have a good time,” said Morgan.
Fun was definitely an ingredient of the three timed events that made up the Challenge. Marines were able to show their bravery in a fear challenge, their brawn in a strength challenge and their guts in a food challenge.
“We just like to challenge ourselves, and it’s fun because we don’t know what to expect,” said Cpl. Kyle J. Mallie, Lisbon, Iowa native and Marine Aviation Logistic Squadron 12 aviation mechanic, before he and his friend began the competition.
The first event hardly seemed like a fear challenge to the Marines who were used to the objective from their required swim training. With only two minutes on the clock, Marines had to jump off a 16.5 foot platform into the pool below and swim approximately 165 feet. Not a single contestant hesitated. Each, with no fear, proceeded to run off the platform and swim to the other side as fast as they could.
“Swimming was pretty easy, since we all have to do swim qualification to graduate boot camp,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua L. Moss, MALS-12 ordnance technician and Springfield, Mo. native.
The second part of the contest wasn’t as easy as the first and was surely not a part of the average Marine’s training. With a 2-ton truck set in neutral behind the gym and a gym employee in the driver’s seat, contestants were required to run 5 meters hauling the heavy vehicle in their wake.
“This was hard for me because I’m not big enough to pull a 2-ton truck, I’m just a small guy,” said Cpl. David A. Thompson, MALS-12 ordnance technician and Cincinnati native.
Despite how difficult it was to pull the truck, everyone made it across with anticipation for the next challenge – food. But, the last challenge, ultimately, separated the men from the boys.
The Marines had to eat Mozuku (Japanese seaweed), Natto (Japanese fermented beans) and octopus under three minutes. Only four Marines were able to finish within the designated time limit.
“The hardest part was eating the fermented beans,” said Moss, one of the Marines who finished the food challenge in time. “The swim was pretty easy, the truck was fun, but those beans were definitely the worst. They tasted liked rotten, regurgitated poo.”
It wasn’t the taste of the food that got to the competitors; it was how it felt going down.
“The texture was like snot; it was really slimy,” said Moss.
After the competition had ended, scores were added up and the two contestants with the fastest time were Cpl. Jacob B. Rich, Headquarters and Headquarters squadron recovery crewman and Marion, Texas native who took first place and Cpl. Chance A Chambers, Hector, N.Y., native, who followed behind in second. They each received goodie bags from MCCS Semper Fit, filled with all sorts of sports accessories. Obviously fear was not a factor for them.
“I think it was great,” said Morgan. “I was surprised more people didn’t finish the food, I thought Marines ate anything. Overall, I think it put people in good spirits and that was the purpose.”