Story by Lance Cpl. Cara Castaneda
Photo by Lance Cpl. Kylie Lake
2nd Marine Division
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – U.S. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment (2/6), 2d Marine Division took part in the human health and performance initiative that magnified their physical health and solidity from July 24 through October 20, 2023 at the Wallace Creek Fitness Center on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Semper Fit Camp Lejeune-New River contains comprehensive programs that support and enhance operational readiness, warfighting proficiency, and quality of life for Marines, Sailors, and civilians. The human health and performance initiative is a program led by professional physical trainers with MCCS to help Marines improve their physical capabilities and recovery techniques to become more efficient in physical training during their Marine Corps career.
“We focused on training 2/6 to conduct mobility and agility drills,” said Christopher Ybarra, the fitness facility manager for MCCS. “They had the ability to do the exercises, and we just wanted to teach them the technique to go with it.”
Marines learned to conduct movements effectively in a given period and how to manage stress with movement patterns over time. Professional physical trainers with MCCS noticed a significant increase in Marines’ confidence, speed, and muscle growth as the training progressed over the 12-week period.
“We have been seeing the Marines sprint faster and with more intention,” said Raymond Anderson, the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the MCCS Warrior Athlete Readiness and Resilience (WARR) Center. "Marines have been able to come into these training sessions with more confidence.”
Marines are required to complete an annual combat fitness test (CFT) and physical fitness test (PFT) to maintain their physical readiness. The Marines with 2/6 who participated in the human health and performance initiative demonstrated significant improvement in exercises that can enhance their CFT and PFT scores.
By the end of the human health and performance initiative, Marines who participated at least 75 percent of the time decreased their 300-yard shuttle run by 4.20 seconds, increased their pull-ups by 3, and were able to deadlift 10 pounds more than their starting weight.
“We saw the most significant results in Marines who participated at least 50 percent of the time,” said Ybarra. “They used what they learned and gained the results they were looking for.”
The WARR program provided 36 training and educational sessions highlighting topics such as injury prevention. Statistics from the program displayed that 48 percent of Marines with 2/6 said the injury prevention and recovery topic was most influential.
“I think the biggest thing I've seen Marines benefit from is recovery,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kenneth Bosanac, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native and an infantryman with Echo Company, 2/6, 2d Marine Division. “If we’re going to be doing strenuous physical training, it’s important to utilize the recovery methods we have been taught.”
MCCS and WARR aim to continue the human health and performance initiative and offer more opportunities for the units on Camp Lejeune to participate.
“We plan to train as many units as possible despite their military occupational specialty,” said Ybarra. “We want Marines and Sailors to have the opportunity to learn and understand what physical training and recovery entails.”