MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Squadrons with Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 39 participated in the group’s first Warrior Games at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 15.
The Warrior Games consisted of a five-month competition between squadrons within MAG-39, culminating in a field meet, where each squadron competed to win points toward a trophy and grand prize of a 72-hour liberty period, courtesy of Col. Michael Borgschulte, commanding officer of MAG-39.
“We wanted to do this [to build] unit camaraderie,” said Borgschulte. “We know all Marines love competition so this was a great way for us to get out there and do some warfighting training with all of MAG-39.”
The Warrior Games Field Meet was a test of strength and team work as Marines competed in a unit pushup challenge, truck pull, tug-of-war and many other physical exercises. The points awarded during the field meet, along with points the squadrons achieved throughout the five-month period, determined the winner of the Warrior Games.
“When we were coming up with the plans for the inaugural Warrior Games, we knew we wanted it to be different [from] your average field meet,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael Pritchard, sergeant major of MAG-39. “So we started keeping track and awarding points to squadrons for things like their physical fitness test, combat fitness test, and even awarded squadrons points for having no off-duty issues over extended weekends.”
By the end of the competition, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 39 acquired the most points and walked away with the trophy and the liberty period.
“I thought the Warrior Games was awesome,” said Cpl. Kevin Ruby, an airframes work center supervisor with MALS-39. “It was great to interact with the other squadrons out of a work environment and get to compete with them and show them who the best on the flight line is.”
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