IRON MAN COMPETITION 2007: COMPANY VERSUS COMPANY!

MMA Summer and ESL Camp Iron Man Competition 2007 got underway at 0900 sharp on Sunday, July 22 nd with all companies present, accounted for, and participating! A slight breeze stirred the U.S. flag atop the Iwo Jima Monument, clearly visible from the Stadium track, a welcome sight in the tropical sun-drenched morning.

Competition begins with a brisk race around Bowman Stadium track. Each company’s first competitor sprints an initial run 3/4 of the way around the stadium track, through the stadium gate, proceeding through the stadium parking lot on down Iwo Jima Boulevard, towards the Administration building, turning left to tag the next teammate. The taggee then proceeds to the starting point for the low crawl, grabs up a rubber M-16, then low-crawls towards the finish line, dropping the M-16. Then, it’s across the field at breakneck pace to the Confidence Course to tag the hand of the next runner This runner takes off ‘round the Boxing Gym, navigating back to the waiting team member a few yards from the Boxing Gym. Tagged and released, the teammate is off to the Fireman’s Carry starting point, but not before he executes 20 push-ups, picks up his ‘wounded camper’ and ‘fireman-carries’ him over the 50-yard course. There, the wounded camper is dropped (no sensitive, gentle drop…just ‘gitter’ done!), and the teammate proceeds to the road leading to the rifle range where he tags the rifle range runner. The Rifle Ranger pummels to the indoor rifle range where he takes the prone position, firing five rounds at the target. Deep breath here ... Miss the target? Well, that costs your team a 10-second penalty! When done firing, the ‘Ranger’ proceeds out the door (watch out, incoming!) along the road to the far side of the Junior Varsity Gym to tag the next runner, who runs on to the ‘Back 40’ to tackle the Obstacle Course – a 30-second penalty assessed for each obstacle improperly negotiated. Hold on, this battle is not over yet! This runner plummets on towards the Paint Ball Course, grabs a paint ball gun and protective mask, then begins to tactically run in a zigzag method to Point 1, engaging Target 1; low-crawl to Target 1 to engage Target 2; and, of course, should a target be missed you get to rack up a 10-second penalty for your team. Once reaching the starting point, this teammate drops all paint ball gear and takes off at lightning-fast speed to tag his waiting teammate. This runner runs past the JV gym, all the way to the Mud Course area where he tags his teammate. This teammate runs all of the obstacles on the Course-- over, under, through, no going ‘round! Deduct 30-seconds from total finish time for each obstacle not properly negotiated. This camper runs toward the swimming pool to tag the hand of his waiting teammate. The teammate swims the length of the pool-TWICE, exits and strut-walks to the pool gate to tag the hand of the waiting final runner. FINAL RUN!!! This runner zips behind King gym and enters the stadium to the ‘OORAH’s’ of his expectant company. Tucking his chin to chest, he pumps his arms to propel him faster toward the finish line…DONE, with a shower and afternoon of pizza, movie and an inspirational word from Commandant SgtMaj Kinsley…the rack will surely be a welcome sight on July 22 nd aboard Camp MMA!!!

Here’s how Platoons fared in competition: