Cherry Point docs prep for this year's Corpsmen Cup

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Cherry Point docs prep for this year's Corpsmen Cup
Submitted by: MCAS Cherry Point
Story Identification Number: 20039259411
Story by Cpl. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc



MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.(Sept. 25, 2003) -- Throughout history on the battlefield, corpsmen are renowned for keeping Marines in the fight, and even holding their ground during combat.

Today's corpsmen are no different from their predecessors, and to show their skills, the corpsmen and Sailors attached to Marine units on the East Coast will compete in the 2003 II Marine Expeditionary Force Competition at Camp Lejuene, N.C. Sept. 29.

The competition is a composition of grueling events for the corpsmen teams to drudge through and prove who has what it takes to bring the coveted corpsmen's cup home. This year, the Cherry Point corpsmen are carrying out extreme training to compete with the best of the best in the 'doc' community.

"Generally it takes at least two or three months of intense training to prepare for this competition," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Paul Hannam, corpsmen with Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, "I've competed in the Corpsmen's Cup in Okinawa, so I knew what to expect, but for some of the others it was a complete shock."

For the corpsmen, their training has become a crash course in physical and mental conditioning. The competition events involve obstacle courses, the confidence course, pistol shoot, a 16-mile hump, land navigation, and a Basic Skills Test.

"It was like we had no time to prepare for our training, they threw us right into it," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Gutierrez, a corpsmen with MWSS-271. "They broke us from the start, then we started building as a team."

The team's program consists of endurance training during Mondays and Wednesdays, hour-long runs during Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a hump every Friday.

Throughout the day, the team also studies their knowledge in the Marine Corps common skills to prepare for the BST.

"We get into training in the morning, and then go straight into work," said Seaman John Blakley, corpsman with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion. "It's non-stop for us. Even during work, we are training as a team. For instance, if someone shows up late we have to do push-ups as a team. It definitely is a full day's work."

Like any unit, the corpsmen emphasize on teamwork. "We push each other to excel," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Derek Gore, corpsmen with MWSS-274. "It's motivation enough being together. Everyone has their gripes and complaints, but we've moved past that and are all working as one on our own accord."

With a team that is functioning in harmony with each other, the Cherry Point corpsmen anticipate giving the other teams a challenge.

"We're pushing ourselves to the limits and making that extra stretch," Hannam said. "We're training to win. I know the teams out there are good, but we're right there with them. Our team has the determination to do it and we're looking to come out on top."



The Cherry Point Corpsmen Cup team is preparing for a competition where they will demonstrate their knowledge, proficiency and endurance.

Photo by: Cpl. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc



Sempers,

Roger