MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marines from each company in Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 competed against each other in a field meet at the IronWorks Gym and Penny Lake here June 5.
Teams from air fuel operations, engineers, motor transportation, and headquarters participated in a total of 11 events throughout the entire day.
“We requested a sports day, a day off and a day in civilian attire,” said Lance Cpl. Hershel Hunt with Air Fuel Operations. “We ended up getting it all in one day.”
The motivated hoots and hollers coming from right outside the IronWorks Gym were heard from the fourth deck of Barracks 314 at 6 a.m. that morning as MWSS-171 got ready to kick off some friendly competition.
The first half of the day consisted of running the obstacle course, volleyball and basketball.
Team members cheered on their fellow competitors as they sped through the obstacle course as fast as they could. While some flew through with ease, others needed the extra motivation.
Basketball and volleyball both turned into heated competitions as Marines started to play more aggressive.
Headquarters, representing their company in white T-shirts, headed over to Penny Lake in the lead after winning both basketball and the obstacle course.
The engineers trailed right behind, claiming the volleyball portion as their first win.
After arriving at Penny Lake, Marines split into teams for ultimate football and soccer.
Rowdy Marines yelled at the top of their lungs every time their team scored. Engineers got louder and louder as they continued to win more events.
The smell of barbeque drifted through the air while Marines finished up the last games of soccer and football.
“We’re not here for the trophy. We’re here for the food,” joked Hunt, whose team happened to be in fourth place at the time. “It doesn’t matter what place you get as long as you come out and have fun.”
Participants congregated in the grass and at picnic tables under tents while waiting for the food to finish.
A prayer was said over the food and the Marines were reminded that even though they were competing against each other they were all still one unit and one family.
Marines took a break from the friendly rivalry and gathered around tables to enjoy the afternoon meal while laughing, conversing and enjoying a couple games of cards.
After letting their food settle, participants were ready to get back into action and finish out the last six events of the competition.
The events included a fireman’s carry portion, a stretcher relay race, dizzy-izzy, push-ups and crunches, and a three-legged race which led to the final and most competitive event — the tug-ofwar.
“One, two, three, pull! One, two, three, pull!” cheered the crowd.
The final two, air fuel operations and motor transportation, dueled it out to the very end with motor transportation pushing just enough to win the final event.
“Tug-of-war was the best part of today,” said GySgt. Jose Aguirre, with headquarters MWSS-171 and the director of the field meet, “It simplified all of the events planned for the day.”
The exhausted Marines all gathered around into a school circle for the announcement of the winner. It was no surprise when the engineers were given the trophy after winning seven out of 11 of the events.
“It was a well-deserved day off,” said Aguirre. “We’ve been planning this for about three months now and the Marines had a lot of fun. They not only showed their pride in 171 but in each of their companies.”