19th Annual Fit Eagle competition tests for the best

Airmen from the 720th Special Tactics Group Team 1 compete during the Tug-of-War event during the 19th Annual Fit Eagle competition March 12, at the Aderholt Fitness Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla. The 720th Team 1 went on to win the competition, which consisted of push-ups, sit-ups, sit and reach, a 5k run, pull-ups, tug-of-war and a mystery team building event.(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Loken)

19th Annual Fit Eagle competition tests for the best

Airmen navigate the mystery event blindfolded while being guided by their team leader during the 19th Annual Fit Eagle Competition March 12th, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Nine squadrons and more than 50 Airmen competed for the title of Hurlburt Field’s best in shape during the competition held at the Aderholt Fitness Center(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Loken)

19th Annual Fit Eagle competition tests for the best

Airmen conduct the sit-up portion of the Fit Eagle competition March 12, at the Aderholt Fitness Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla. During the competition, Eleven teams of five active-duty members competed in seven graded categories including two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, one minute of pull-ups, sit and reach, a 5k race, tug-of-war and a mystery team building exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Matthew Loken)

19th Annual Fit Eagle competition tests for the best

Published March 15, 2010
By Senior Airman Ryan Whitney
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Nine squadrons and more than 50 Airmen competed for the title of Hurlburt Field's best in shape during the 19th Annual Fit Eagle competition March 12 at the Aderholt Fitness Center. The 720th Special Tactics Group Team 1 claimed first place over all other teams.

"Our goal with Fit Eagle is to foster a healthy rivalry between the different squadrons while keeping a strong focus on physical fitness standards for the Air Force, allowing units to see where they stand against other units on the base," said Airman First Class Deena Bloss, 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron fitness specialist and event coordinator.

Eleven teams of five active-duty members competed in seven graded categories. These included: two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, one minute of pull-ups, sit and reach, a 5k race, tug-of-war and, as in past Fit Eagles, a mystery team-building event kept secret from the participants until they were actually participating in it.

"For the mystery event, we wanted something that would test the teamwork of the competing squadrons, but remain fun for the teams to complete," said Staff Sgt. Jawon Smith, 1st 1st Special Operations Force Support Squadron fitness specialist.

During the mystery event, all team members were blindfolded except the team leaders. The team leaders then had to verbally guide their teammates through a 15-yard circle toward small basketballs while avoiding cones and markers that outnumbered the basketballs three to one. If a blindfolded team member came into contact with the cones, their turn was over.

All participants had to compete in every event, ensuring a single person couldn't carry their team to victory. The scores were then compared against the other teams by the event organizers to determine the winner.

To ensure the teams were fairly stacked, each time had to include a male over 40, a male over 30, a male of any age, and two females of any age.

"The Air Force is trying to usher in a new era of fitness for its Airmen, and events like the one that our force support squadron conducted today are helping us to reach this initiative," said Col. Daniel Zook, 1st Special Operations Wing vice commander.

FIT EAGLE 2010 CATEGORY WINNERS

5K
720th Special Tactics Group

PUSH-UPS
1st Special Operations Group

SIT-UPS
1st Special Operations Communications Squadron

PULL-UPS
319th Special Operations Squadron Slayer Team

SIT AND REACH
1st Special Operations Group

TUG-OF-WAR
720th Special Tactics Group Team 1

MYSTERY EVENT (TEAM BUILDING)
1st Special Operations Group

OVERALL WINNER
720th Special Tactics Group Team 1