High Intensity Tactical Training: Marines take part in athlete competition

The Marine Corps' high intensity tactical training continues to live up to its name.

Ten Marines - two females and eight males - had an opportunity to test their resiliency during Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany's first HITT tactical athlete competition at Boyett Park here, July 14.

Gunnery Sgt. Melvin Ashley, director, Semper Fit, Marine Corps Community Services, said the competition was a Headquarters Marine Corps initiative.

"The purpose of the event is to identify the top male and female Marine tactical athlete from Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany," Ashley said. "The winners will compete for the title, ultimate tactical athlete, in Twentynine Palms, California, scheduled for Sept. 16."

Whitney Hendrix, fitness director, MCCS, said the competition is a lot of fun and builds camaraderie.

"Speed, power, strength and endurance are essential parts of being an overall combat-ready Marine," Hendrix said. "HITT is going to make your body a lot stronger."

With beads of sweat dripping off their faces from the southwest Georgia heat, Marines grunted and sweated their way through the competition.

The active-duty Marines competed in several events including prone pro-agility drill, prone three-cone drill, prone 25-yard dash, kneeling medicine ball throw, standing broad jump, 400-yard tactical course and kettlebell/burpee challenge.