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Together we lift

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Morris
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  On a Saturday morning it was brisk enough that four Team Dover athletes could see their breath while jumping up and down in place, trying to stay warm and keep their nerves in check prior to the competition.

Fitness can be a common tie for service members, but for these Airmen they have an even stronger tie to each other after their involvement in the Eastern Shore Affiliate Challenge Oct. 17, 2015, in Georgetown, Delaware.

They have a love for fitness and found CrossFit to be the ideal way to meet their physical fitness goals. CrossFit is an exercise program that combines aerobic exercise with Olympic weight lifting and calisthenics. The program is known for its functional movements executed at high intensities. ESAC was an opportunity for members of different affiliate CrossFit gyms or "boxes" to come together and compete in individual and group events and push their limits both mentally and physically.

"I love to find my mental and physical limits," said Tech. Sgt. Clayton Morris, 436th Operations Support Squadron Air Crew Flight Equipment NCO in charge of technician training. "CrossFit has given me a positive outlet and allows me to find those limits and exploit them."

The challenge included three events consisting of a shuttle under, clean and jerk ladder and hang cleans including bar facing burpees as well as a team challenge for athletes that scored high enough in the individual competitions. This was Morris' first competition and he took home second place in the men's scaled division.

In addition to the mental and physical challenges, CrossFit, much like the Air Force, promotes a family atmosphere.

"Since I started going to CrossFit Sweat Angel in May of 2014, everyone has welcomed me like part of their family," said Airman 1st Class Karla Montes, 436th Dental Squadron dental assistant. "Being in the military and moving places makes it hard to find friends and people you get along with but at CFSA they immediately treated me like they've known me for years."

Not all Team Dover Airmen in attendance competed in the challenge. One person lent a hand by becoming certified to judge the competition.

"Just like competing, judging is challenging because the athletes count on you to know how each movement should be done properly," said Staff Sgt. Nicole Dudley, 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron unit deployment manager. "I became certified to judge competitions a few months ago to learn about movements and how each movement is supposed to be done. This also allowed me to get outside of my comfort zone and meet many other amazing athletes from other boxes."

Dudley started doing CrossFit two and a half years ago and it has helped her to gain confidence and  allows her to challenge herself in ways she never imagined.

"CrossFit helps me with my military career by helping me become more fit than I ever thought possible," said Dudley. "I was barely passing my PT test prior to starting CrossFit and within 6 months I went from scoring a 76 percent on my PT test to scoring over a 90 percent." 

Senior Airman Nikki Mitchell, 436th DS dental assistant, also competed in the competition. She has found CrossFit to be a way to de-stress after a hard day.

"I do CrossFit to stay in shape but most importantly, it's my go to at the end of the day," said Mitchell. "CrossFit gives you the mindset to not give up and to push yourself to become better. It has definitely helped me to become physically and mentally stronger; it helps me to not give up."