MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- The HITT program coordinated a 3-day competition pitting not one, but three nations of Marines against one another for competitive fun after the conclusion of the Black Alligator-14 exercise. From Oct. 7 to Oct. 9, Marines engaged in aquatic, endurance and sports-centered competition to determine which nation would walk away as victors in this year’s Combat Center Warrior Games.
The British Royal Marines and Dutch Marines recently conducted their training for Black Alligator-14, a bilateral training evolution with the U.S. Marines, before returning to their respective nations each branch welcomed the opportunity to compete.
“The MCAGCC HITT challenge and Black Alligator Warrior Games is a combination of the British, the Dutch and the Americans coming together to put together some challenges,” said Edmundo Rangel Jr., HITT coordinator.
The different groups gave input on the different events that will take place over the duration of this competition.
“We tried to keep the events even for all the different countries, because some countries might favor some events more than others,” said Cpl. Stephen Griffiths, physical instructor, 45 Royal Marine Commandos. “We try to make it as even as possible.”
The events of the Warrior Games where spread out over three days. Starting with a speed and strength course, and followed by an overhead-lift competition. The next day had an obstacle course and a swimming competition. The last day had an assault course and the winners of the games were announced.
On the first day, the Marines were tested on their speed, agility and strength. Starting with a 25-yard sprint, a kneeling medicine-ball throw, a standing jump and other agility based events. It ended with a strength gauntlet which consisted of tire flips, sled push, farmer’s carry, running with a medicine-ball, and deadlifts.
“It’s all to test your agility and speed,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Ashley, 7th Marine Regiment. “After that, we did a strongman competition; that also tests your speed but also your strength.”
After the morning event, the teams participated in an overhead-lift challenge. Each four man team had to lift 90 pounds of weight over their heads ten times before grabbing an ammo can and a plastic rifle, then going to the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer to fire mock-weapons and test hand-eye coordination. Later in the games the teams went through swimming events at the Combat Center Training Tank, and an assault course.
“Event three is in the pool, a lot more swimming with combat equipment on,” Griffiths said, “Event four is a series of different disciplines, then throwing a grenade into a bunker. The last event is the Light Hammer Assault Course.”
This competition gave the different countries a chance to test themselves against one another and see how the service members from across the world handle the courses.
“It’s cool to have competition against people from America but then to also have the experience to go against other people who are British or Dutch,” Ashley said.
At the end of the Warrior Games, awards will be given to the teams based on various aspects of fitness and the time it took to complete the challenges. Look for the results on the Combat Center Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecombatcenter.