The challenge within

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brittain Crolley
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Thirty-three members of Team Seymour competed in the Combat Fitness Challenge (CFC) at the fitness center here, Mar. 30.

The challenge was designed to promote overall fitness in the participants by testing their performance levels of cardio, strength and endurance.

"We are trying to improve the fitness of Airmen," said Mike Unden, 4th Force Support Squadron military fitness specialist. "We want to motivate them to improve their performance, both on-the-job and off. By running these competitions, it sets a goal to work toward and achieve."

Some of the participants were a part of the mandatory physical training classes for failing their PT test, said Unden. After passing, many decided to join Unden's optional class and set their sights on the CFC.

The competition was a grueling mixture of cardio and strength exercises that tested the overall endurance of the competitors.

The challenge began on the quarter-mile track, with each participant having to run one lap. The competitors then had to complete six 100-meter dashes while performing activities such as bear crawls, ammo can and sandbag carries. After each event, the competitors had to run another lap for a total of seven.

The second leg of the challenge required the competitors to run a full lap on the two-mile track and also stop at four different stations to perform exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups and squat thrusts.

"Having the mindset to want to participate in a challenge which requires breaking physical limits of the average person and keeping that mentality throughout the event, or everyday life, is the hardest part of a challenge like this," said Airman 1st Class Jordan Melendez, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics technician and overall winner. "After completing the Combat Fitness Challenge, I was left craving for more."

The top two male and female finishers received medals.

Melendez finished with a time of 39 minutes, 22 seconds followed by Senior Airman Marc Fuentes, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural maintenance technician, with a time of 42 minutes.

Senior Airman Melissa Perkins, 4th Force Support Squadron services journeyman, finished in 49 minutes, 50 seconds followed by Jackie Pedraza, spouse of Airman 1st Class Juan Pedraza, 4th Fighter Wing Command Post emergency actions controller, with a time of 52 minutes, 37 seconds.