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Fitness challenge focuses on fitness in fun competition

By Capt. Jeremy J. McClure, 185th ARW Public Affairs / Published August 10, 2015

Master Sgt. Jason Gamble counts the number of burpees completed by Staff Sgt. John Van Beest during the 2nd Annual 185th Fitness Challenge on August 7, 2015. Teams from different sections of the base had to complete physical challenges spread out over a mile and a half course during the event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure/Released)
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Master Sgt. Jason Gamble counts the number of burpees completed by Staff Sgt. John Van Beest during the 2nd Annual 185th Fitness Challenge on August 7, 2015. Teams from different sections of the base had to complete physical challenges spread out over a mile and a half course during the event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure/Released)

Staff Sgt. Phillip Simonsen holds up the trophy his team, The Sheep Dogs, had won during the 2nd Annual 185th Fitness Challenge on August 7, 2015 as members of the Wing Nuts, who won best costume, look on. Teams from different sections of the base had to complete physical challenges spread out over a mile and a half course during the event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure/Released)
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Staff Sgt. Phillip Simonsen holds up the trophy his team, The Sheep Dogs, had won during the 2nd Annual 185th Fitness Challenge on August 7, 2015 as members of the Wing Nuts, who won best costume, look on. Teams from different sections of the base had to complete physical challenges spread out over a mile and a half course during the event. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Jeremy J. McClure/Released)

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Sioux City, Iowa -- With bright shirts and names like 'The Wing Nuts' and 'The Young and the Rest of Us', Airmen with the 185th Air Refueling Wing competed in the base's 2nd Annual Fitness Challenge here on Friday.

"The Fitness Challenge is a fun way for our members to compete and challenge each other while building morale," said Master Sgt. Val Rose with the Logistics Readiness Squadron and one of the organizers of the competition. "With the unit's commitment to improve fitness, we found this to be a great way to get people excited about working out."

The event covered a mile and half course in which teams completed physical challenges like carrying 35-pound kettle bells, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, and marksmanship using airsoft rifles.

"The teams had to complete each stage before they could continue to the next stop," explained Rose.

The team members named their teams and came up with unique shirts for the competition. The winners of the Best Costume went to 'The Wing Nuts' who painted their faces and adorn their heads with a patriotic themed wing nut.

"This is a great way to work on team cohesion and challenge each other," said Staff Sgt. Phillip Simonsen with the 185th Security Forces Squadron.

Simonsen was on the winning team, 'The Sheep Dogs', with a time of 19 minutes and 25 seconds. They were presented with a traveling trophy for their accomplishment.

"Even though the teams were made up of people from different sections, everyone on base cheered on all the competitors and that is also what this was about," said Rose.