LA Hard invades college field for fierce athletic competition

8 Sep 2003 | Marine Corps Recruiting Command

On May 30, more than 600 Marines, poolees and guests invaded the West Los Angeles College soccer field for the Recruiting Station Los Angeles' 18th annual LA Games Field Meet.
The athletic competition featured nine events that tested endurance; upper and lower body strength and mental agility.
According to GySgt. Steve Rubio, pool coordinator, RS LA, the station holds the event, to enhance the spirit of competition within our recruiting station, to motivate and continue to demonstrate comraderie and esprit de corps.
"Most of these poolees will ship to boot camp within the next three months, the event gets them fired up and ready to hit the footprints eager to train and eventually earn the title United States Marine."
The competitions kicked off with the chin-up challenge and crunches, both exercises were important to poolees because they need to demonstrate these skills as part of the Corps' physical fitness test before and during boot camp.
Before the games kicked off, the poolees had the privilege of being introduced to a friendly drill instructor from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.  Chief Drill Instructor SSgt. Anthony A. Reynolds opened up by reciting the Drill Instructors Creed, followed by a question and answer dialogue and a quick demonstration of incentive training, which began by the words, "get down and push yoo-hoo!"
Although he was there to motivate and educate the poolees about their future training at the depots, he also served another purpose to the Corps.
"One of the keys factors in my being here is it can weed out those potential recruits that might quit; those that don't think they have what it takes to be a Marine," said Reynolds.  "We train to fight wars and if you can't take the training you will not fight when a brother Marine needs you to be at his side.  This kind of event of good for the poolees."
Afterward, the competition went into high gear with the chin-ups, arm hang and crunches.  Meanwhile, family members stayed to the sidelines and cheered on their Marine's team, while headquarters Marines fired up the grill and cooked a hundred pounds of hamburgers and hotdogs. 
The drill instructor took turns motivating poolees throughout the day and even captured a few guidons.
By the time those events were over, the sun was blazing and sweat was dripping, but it didn't stop the flow of energy from these young poolees.
Unlike last year, with Recruiting Substation Montebello dominating the competition, this year it remained open to any teams' victory going into the fireman's' carry, dizzy izzy and relay race.
"Recruiting Substation's Thousand Oaks and Van Nuys tied for 2nd place overall and forcing the teams in a round of tug of war," Rubio said.  "In the end, Thousand Oaks pulled the victory dragging Van Nuys into 3rd place."
At the halfway point, a little entertainment was created with the dizzy izzy and fireman's carry.  The poolees and Marines were falling, running sideways and staggering across finish lines through these three events.
Teams of eight people battled it out for the honor of being best at this year's games. The competition was fierce until the end.
While the winning team was so focused on having fun and remaining competitive, RSS Pasadena did not realize they were a force to be reckoned with.
By placing 3rd in push-ups, 2nd in the 12-man relay and 1st in the dizzy izzy, RSS Pasadena took a commanding lead going into the final event.  And, because the other contenders didn't place in the tug of war, RSS Pasadena was awarded the victory.
Last year's winning team said, "to those who think they can dethrone us next year, you better get your pool from the U. S. Olympic Team."
"Pasadena's pool may not be from the U. S. Olympic Team, however, they set their sights on something much higher than the Olympics.  They are training to become United States Marines," said SSgt. James K. Bennett, RSS Pasadena.  "With that in mind, they gave it their all with a warrior's sprit and successfully dethroned Van Nuys.  Maybe this year anyone who wants to beat us should get advice from the recruiters of RSS Pasadena."


CAPTION INFO:

Photo by SSgt. Bobbie J. Bryant
Chief Drill Instructor, SSgt. Anthony A. Reynolds, Marine Corps recruit Depot, San Diego, introduces himself to the poolees of Recruiting Station Los Angeles with a little intensity.  Reynolds started with the Drill Instructors Creed and ended with a loud demonstration of incentive training. (LA Games 3)

Staff Sgt. Anthony A. Reynolds offers some additional motivation to a poolee to complete his push ups.  Reynolds, drill instructor, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, was on hand to not only provide a loud voice, but to answer questions as well. ( LA Games 2)
Recruiting Substation Gelendale stays warm between events in the 18th anual L. A. Games Field Meet.  Even though RSS Pasadena took home the trophy, all of the participants had a great day.  (LA Games 1)

Marine Corps Recruiting Command