Bragging rights to be decided at ROTC Olympics

Joint competition Friday tests physical and mental strength

By: Ben Opsahl

Posted: 4/12/07

Those with a thirst for good competition will find no shortage of it at the third annual Joint Service Olympics.

The Joint Service Olympics consist of a series of events fought out between the Army, Navy/Marines, and Air Force branches of OSU's Reserve Officers Training Corps program.

The event will be hosted by the Air Force ROTC Detachment 685, members of which expect it to be exciting for all in attendance.

The Olympics, taking place on Friday at the McAlexander Fieldhouse, will aim to showcase the talents and strengths of each branch of OSU's military presence. It is the determinate for which branch dominates the fitness battleground this year - bragging rights are at stake.

"It's really one of the only chances we get to showcase our branch's abilities," said Nathan Erickson, a senior in fisheries and wildlife speaking on behalf of the Air Force. "We practice a while in advance for it and try to be as prepared as possible to show off our physical fitness."

Events featured this year include basketball, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, an iron-man competition, and a physical fitness competition, with the majority of the points allocated to the physically intense iron-man competition.

"All year we work on various physical activities to prepare," said Kimberly Garbett, unit admissions officer at the Air Force ROTC.

The competition itself consists of four to five physical challenges in a row. The fastest timed participant wins for their branch.

Participants must do 150 pushups, 150 situps, climb a rope five times, do 25 pullups, and carry a ruck sack three miles.

"Each branch has to choose the best people to represent them," said Eric Ball, commandant of cadets for the Air Force ROTC. "Physical fitness plays a large role in the constantly changing military environment. Officers are consistently grouping with other services to improve efficiency."

The Air Force won the competition the first year, Navy/Marines took second, and all three branches are considered close competitors for the title this year.

Those wishing to attend the event should arrive by 6 a.m. on Friday morning to catch all the action. The basketball and volleyball competitions will be held at the Dixon Recreation Center, the physical fitness test will be held at McAlexander Fieldhouse, and the iron-man competition will occur at the officer course nearby.