I was excited to get back to the new AO in Clover at Clover Middle School. Did some recon the night before with my boys, and we played a little football on the amazing field they have at the school. So I figured we’d spend most of our time at the field Wednesday morning.

I arrived at 5am to set up some cones…and there were already several cars in the back parking lot. Come to find out F3 is not alone in thinking this AO is great. A woman’s group meets there on Wednesday mornings for field work as well! I talked it over with their clip board holder (the only guy with the group) and we both agreed to use the field from 5-6am.

Went back up to the parking lot and started seeing our PAX pull in. Great to have HIMs like Cornhole, Apache and Dry Dock come from so far away to support this newer AO!

We hit 5:15am so I said the disclaimer, and we took a lap around the parking lot for some dynamic stretching including high knees, butt kickers, karaoke, and toy soldiers.

Circle up for COP
25x Side Straddle Hops
20x Imperial Walkers
25x Moroccan night clubs
20x Mountain Climbers
10X Merkins
15x Carolina Dry Docks

Quick thought around focusing on how you can be a better father today then you were yesterday.

Mosey to the football field

Time for “Burpesides”
There were cones set up every 20 yards.
Start with 1x Burpee at the Goal line.
Run 20 yards do 5x Burpees
Run back to Goal line do 1x Burpee
Run to the 40 yard line 5x burpees…etc, until you run all the way to the other goal line and finish 5 burpees
When all said and done, we did 30 burpees and ran 500 yards

Just like these #HIMs typically do, when complete those at the front went back and continued to put in work with the 6. The PAX just keeps pushing each other!

Once we all hit the goal line we finished with 25 LBCs in cadence.

My 10 count was based on a post-father’s day message. In short, I’m a BAD father. I’m quick to anger, don’t put in the quality time that I should with my kids. Like many of the PAX, I’m the main bread winner in my family, and I used to assume that this was the #1 most important thing I needed to be as “Dad”. Not correct. Be present, put the phone or the iPad down. Play dolls with your daughter and legos with your son. Or baseball, or F3 Dads, whatever…but your time is the most valuable thing you can give to them!

Time to get back to work…

Next field exercise
Bear Crawl 10 yards
20x Flutter Kicks
Bear Crawl 10 yards
20x Freddy Mercury’s
Rinse and repeat until we make it the full 100 yards to the other goal line

The message I had next was related to your kids. They hear and see everything. And they usually remember the bad moments more. The yelling, swearing, disappointments stick harder than the good times. Try and set the right example at all times.

Time to Mosey! So we left the field and ran up towards the other open field behind the school. At that field they have this great two step concrete riser. Each step is about waist high. Great alternative to a large hill for some 11s!

11s
At bottom do 10 Bombjacks
Hop the two ledges to the top
Do 1 Ranger Merkin
Hop back down

Continue this pattern until you’ve reversed the count to 10 Ranger Merkins at the top and 1 Bombjack at the bottom.

Final 10 Count message:
Put your M on a pedestal for your 2.0s to see. Complement her, support her, thank her. Remember they see and hear everything? Make it positive, and we know that it’s not always easy but YOU need to make that effort! Teach your daughters how a man needs to treat a woman properly, and teach your son’s the proper way to treat a woman. They will continue this pattern into their own relationships in the future.

Mosey back up to COT

Announcements:
F3 Dads – WEP in June the Patriot in July
F3 Picnic

Prayers and Praises:
Pray for Spud and his family during their loss
Prayers for all those that have lost loved ones

Final Thoughts:
None of these Fatherhood ideas are mine…I’ve gathered these ways to be a better Dad from the messages shared by other PAX all over the Fort over the last several months and meetings. But I’m trying to be better and I take their words to heart!

A few notes on the PAX today:

Orvis came back from a 3 week vacation and brought his 2.0 “Goalkeeper” (age 10) to this difficult workout. Goalkeeper barely broke a sweat and kept up with the men!

Apache worked his magic and had my Q promoted to 17 different regions, on multiple technology platforms, and then started tweeting MORE at 3am… I’m always glad to see Apache and his positive energy. Real pleasure seeing him so much in York and Lake Wylie!

Villa has been going at this for around a month now? Glad to see he keeps coming back for more, and he doesn’t quit! Keep pushing it brother! You’ll be leading in no time (I’ll make sure of that…)

Dry Dock lead the way and kept up with Apache, he’s one of the first guys to turn and pick up the six with some positive reinforcement. Great job today, and good work sharing your stories and helping solidify the Fatherhood message I was trying to share. I appreciate you coming out to support the Clover group!

Cornhole, respect! I think he made the longest drive today…and passed two other AOs to get to the Maze! About 30 minutes later he showed up in Clover, ready to roll! This man is one of the PAX I consider a mentor, and I always know the PAX will get help from a veteran like him. At the end of COT he gave me a nice little memento for completing the #22Kill pushup awareness challenge related to veteran suicide. He’s always thinking about others!

An honor to Lead,

Royale