YHC had the pleasure, once again, of leading the men at PHOP.  This time, however, I got to share it with Sgt. York for his VQ.  After gathering up the PHOP toys, the standard preamble and welcoming the FNG (“Wall-E”), Sgt. York took over and here’s what the 12 attending endured:

Sgt. York’s “warm-up”:

• 10 Burpees OYO
• Mosey around the complex
• SSH
• IW
• Merkins
• Peter Parkers
• Hold at 6″ for a Padre 10-count (this was his only error of the VQ – Deacon wisely noted that this felt like a 12 minute 10-count)
• Mosey
• Line up at the back of the church for the following series:
  • bearcrawl approx. 50 yard and up the little hill – 10 bombjacks
  • bearcrawl back – 25 LBCs
• Outstanding work by Sgt. York – when he takes over a full Q, you’ll regret showing up…

The Handoff to YHC

• Mosey to the front drive where I introduced “Rolling Thunder” to the Rock Hill faithful.  As planned, the constant flipping left everyone dizzy and already feeling it.  I needed them disoriented for the stations to come.
• Count off to 6 and then Mosey around the complex to introduce the stations:
  1. 25lb dumbbells – get in a squat position and do overhead tricep extensions then switch to curls before dropping it on your head;
  2. Sand Bags – forward throw, pick it up, throw it again, repeat;
  3. Big Tires – Flip the tire, bunny hop in, bunny hop out, flip the tire, repeat;
  4. Little Hill – Backwards bearcrawl up the hill, run back down, repeat;
  5. Burpees – No workout is complete without them;
  6. Level Ground – back at front of church on the pavement.  Jump tucks with back fly
• Each station was done as an AMRAP for 2 minutes before sprinting off to the next station – no rest periods.
• Following the stations, we converged at the back of the church once again for some Peoples Chair with 2 sandbags.  First one passed Pax-to-Pax overhead with the second following at chest level.  Rinse and repeat.
• Finally, line up along the back of the church and sprint approx. 50 yards then up the hill for 10 burpees.  Sprint back for LBCs until the 6 comes home.  Rinse & repeat. (It was at this point that the FNG finally let go of that merlot that he had been holding so dear.  YHC had the pleasure of being teamed up with him during the stations and he gave it all he had!)

COT

• YHC took the time at the COT to speak about what I think is one of the greatest pieces of F3 – the separate but together idea.  Pain stations illustrate that well – we’re all doing something different but we’re all doing something and, if we’re doing it right, that something is with a purpose.  That extends way beyond the gloom and carries over through work and family.  The Pax can feel secure that, when tough times hit or they are feeling sorry for themselves, their F3 brothers are out there doing the same thing and fighting the same battles.  Iron Sharpens Iron.  Lean on your brothers and their support will not fail.

Usual announcements including all the activities of 8/8 and some the Padre took us out.  Another outstanding experience at PHOP and I’m telling you, if you haven’t been down to Rock Hill in a while, GO.  They’ve got something really special going on down there.  Aye!