Malmstrom personnel poised to take part in AFGSC rowing challenge

Published March 30, 2012
By Valerie Mullett
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen will learn how much pull it takes to get to the Olympics when the command kicks off its month-long "Never Quit" rowing challenge April 5.

The American300 Rowing Challenge, part of a command-wide initiative to strengthen and encourage Stryker Airmen, will begin with Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, AFGSC commander, rowing the first 500 meters at the Barksdale AFB gymnasium while leaders at other AFGSC bases kick off the event at their home stations.

"This challenge is designed to promote fitness, teamwork and a spirit of competition," said Col. Gregory Parsons, director of the AFGSC personnel directorate. "We are also encouraging Airmen to work to overcome obstacles in their lives."

As part of the American300 Never Quit tour stopping at the command's bases, Olympic gold medalist and world champion rower Dan Beery will share his story and demonstrate proper rowing technique to Fitness Center staff. This will take place at 4 p.m. April 3 at Malmstrom's Fitness Center. Sean Colgan, Congressional medal recipient and a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic rowing team, will talk to Airmen about overcoming obstacles and moving forward when faced with disappointment.

"Dan and I were both members of Team USA's Olympic 8 boat. If there's one thing about 8-man rowing that can't be disputed, it's that there's a total team approach to winning," Colgan said. "Rowing in the 8 is the ultimate testament to teamwork. There are so many times in training and competition when you just want to give up. Your body wants to quit. But you can't . . . there's a boat full of teammates that are counting on you."

The Rowing Challenge links the American300 "Never Quit" series with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by challenging Airmen to row a cumulative total of 5,900 kilometers between all the bases - the distance between Washington, D.C., and London. Each rowing machine at the five AFGSC bases will carry a logo - a color of one of the five Olympic rings.

"I think the 245 athletes from [the original] 1896 [Olympic games] would be proud of what these Airmen are attempting to do. Honor runs deep throughout the history of the Olympics and no one knows honor better than our service men and women of today's Armed Forces," Beery said.

He is excited to be able to share his Olympic gold medal with the AFGSC Airmen he will meet.

"I want them to touch it, take pictures with it and feel its weight in their hands because if it weren't for their duty and dedication, we wouldn't be able to compete in the games, let alone bring home gold," he said.

Colgan and Beery will be at Malmstrom April 3-4 to help promote the rowing challenge. The final results from the month-long competition will be announced May 8. Individual prizes include U.S. Olympic rowing team gear. The base with the most cumulative meters rowed will win $50,000. The individual Airman in AFGSC who compiles the greatest distance rowed during the challenge will receive an all-expense paid trip to London alongside American300 representatives.

Editor's Note: Carla Pampe, Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs, contributed to this story.

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Air Force Global Strike Command - American300 Rowing Challenge

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
1. The Rowing Challenge will officially kick-off at 7 a.m. on April 5, 2012.
2. Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski will row the first 500 meters at the Barksdale Fitness Center; Col. Robert Stanley will initiate the rowing competition at Malmstrom.
3. The Rowing Challenge will run from April 5 to May 5, 2012.
4. Any personnel (including dependants) assigned to AFGSC may participate in the rowing, however, only active duty Airmen assigned to AFGSC are eligible to win prizes. Fitness Center Staff are not eligible for the Grand Prize.
5. Prizes:

Individual Prizes: US Olympic Rowing Team gear
Base Prize: $50K to the AFGSC base that rows the most meters

Grand Prize: A trip to London in July 2012 with American300 to the AFGSC Airman that rows the most meters.
6. Individuals may compete in the Rowing Challenge during the following hours:

Monday through Friday: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m to 6 p.m.

7. Every participant must check in and check out with staff at the Fitness Center front desk in order to participate. ***Participation will not count if the participant does not check in/out.
8. Fitness Center staff will record: Rank, Name, Unit, Start Time, End Time, Meters Rowed and their own (Fitness Center Staff) initials.
9. The odometer on the rowing machine must be reset to zero before each new participant begins.
10. If other participants are waiting, a 30 minute usage limit will be put into place and a waiting list will be started.
11. To ensure maximum participation, squadrons are encouraged to use the machine during PT sessions with participants rowing in increments of 500 meters.
12. There is no limit to the number of meters an individual may log.
13. Individuals may not sign up in advance. They must physically be at the gym to put their name on the waiting list.
14. Only the Official American300 rowing machine may be used for the challenge. No other rowing machines are authorized.
15. Results will be posted at the following times:

NLT 3 p.m. CST each Friday during first three weeks
NLT 3 p.m. CST each day during final five days of the challenge

16. Final results and winners will be announced on May 8.