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Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Participates in 'Spartan Challenge'

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120814-09
8/14/2012

By Ensign Elizabeth Allen, Center for Explosive Ordnance and Diving Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 70 instructors and students from the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) participated in "Spartan Challenge" Aug. 7.

The challenge is a series of physically demanding events and is a reference to the book "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield, which describes how approximately 300 Spartans faced certain death at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC.

The NAVSCOLEOD participants did not face certain death at this challenge, but did push themselves physically throughout the morning.

"I must say, I was a little spent and hungry," said NAVSCOLEOD Command Master Chief Stacey McClain following his participation in the challenge. "I was pretty happy to have done it in a respectable time."

The events began at the NAVSCOLEOD Air Force detachment building on Eglin Air Force Base with a three-mile march wearing rucksacks weighing at least 40 pounds, followed by five rounds of 10 pull-ups, 20 push-ups, 30 sit-ups, 40 air squats and a 400-meter run, all followed by a three-mile return run.

"I was tired afterwards, but I like challenges and it was good physical training for me," said Engineman 2nd Class David Smith, a student in the Underwater Ordnance Division. "It was really good to see the master chiefs and the Air Force EOD techs participating with us."

Seaman Connor Antkowski, a student at the Underwater Ordnance Division, was the first person to finish the challenge, completing it in one hour, 19 minutes.

"I chose to participate to represent the Navy in the combined effort with the Air Force and Army EOD community," said Antkowski. "It felt good to see the Navy come in first and to see how our physical training has paid off."

The challenge was organized as a way to bring the services together at the joint-service training command, and to build on the camaraderie of the students and instructors, who all have a common bond - being EOD technicians.

"We did this to pull all four services together at NAVSCOLEOD, and to build on the brotherhood and sisterhood between the joint services," said Chief Master Sgt. Al Schneider, superintendent of the school's Air Force detachment. "I came out here today to mentor and support our EOD teammates."

The challenge was followed by breakfast to help replenish the calories spent throughout the morning.

"Participating in this challenge was the right thing to do," added McClain. "We preach health and fitness to our students and if I cannot do it, how can I expect the troops to do it? I believe this is a great way to lead by example, and it helps to motivate the young ones when they see the old master chief doing it."

NAVSCOLEOD, located on Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. provides high-risk, specialized, basic and advanced EOD training to more than 2,200 U.S. and partner nation military and selected U.S. government personnel each year.