MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron command hosted a competition by the southside softball field here April 8 that offered service members the opportunity to compete for a chance at a tandem parachute jump during jump rehearsals prior to Friendship Day on May 5.
The competition, which was open to all H&HS second-term service members, was a back-to-back physical fitness.
Sgt. Adam Kruse, station outside plant chief, Sgt. Ricardo Gomez, station combat camera productions chief and Sgt. James Hardenbrook, a station property supply administration chief, participated in the competition.
Kruse took first place in the contest and won the prize.
“The point of (these competitions) is to keep morale up,” said Gunnery Sgt. Rodney Buentello, H&HS squadron gunnery sergeant. “The benefit is, ‘Hey somebody cares about us. We‘re not just the worker-bees. We‘re getting payback for our dues and this is the benefit of it right now.’”
Beuntello said since these competitions and opportunities come up from time to time, it would be a good idea if the squadron service members kept physically fit at all times so they could take advantage of these opportunities.
The competition started with a max set of pull-ups and crunches, each exercise to be done within a two-minute limit by the southside softball field here and continued with an approximate four-mile run on the seawall.
To close out the competition, all competitors ran through a CFT course set up at the Penny Lake field here.
Kruse said when he heard of the competition, he saw an opportunity he wanted to take advantage of and decided to compete.
“Opportunities like these don‘t just come up anywhere in the Marine Corps,” said Kruse. “It really takes someone looking out for their Marines to give them these types of opportunities.”
The other Marines who participated also agreed chances to compete for opportunities like HALO jumps are not offered every day and are worth taking advantage of.
“It’s not everyday that you’ll get to do a tandem jump or take a trip to Saipan. It’s an opportunity, and I just wanted to take up the challenge that the (commanding officer) put out for the Marines,” said Gomez.
The Marines were appreciative of the opportunity to compete, but they also understood the underlying need the command competitions enforced.
Gomez said while competitions like these are good to keep morale up, Marines are a force in readiness and should always ensure they are ready for anything, whether it’s a competition or going into combat.