Weight Lifting, Weight Training, Bench Press & Bodybuilding
March 28, 2024

Gunslingers Host COB Basra Strongman Contest
United States Division - South, Media Release
By Sgt. Neil W. McCabe 17th FiB PAO

Gunslingers Host COB Basra Strongman Contest

COB BASRA, Iraq - Needing to bench press 315 pounds one time in the final "bench-off" for the title at the Gunslinger Strongman Competition, Spc. Travis E. Dobson, of Long Beach, Calif., pumped out an extra four repetitions, March 1, 2010. "He is a strong Soldier, full of stamina," said 1st Sgt. Derek Q. Bazile, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion "Gunslingers," 377th Field Artillery Regiment, an element of the 17th Fires Brigade deployed to Contingency Operating Base Basra. The competition was held at the Gunslinger Gym at Camp Allenby, the battalion's compound.

Bazile said Dobson, who played semi-pro football before joining the Army, is a Soldier in his battery. "Originally we only had five people sign up," Bazile said. "But, in the end, we had 16 competitors - we had some walk-ons. But, that is good." More than 25 Soldiers and civilians attended the event to watch and cheer-on the competitors. One Soldier, who wanted to compete but could not because of another obligation, was Sgt. Maj. Garret L. Spencer, the 1st Bn., 377th FAR operations sergeant major, Bazile said. Spencer was there to lend support at the contest opening and demonstrated the perfect bench press technique for the competitors. "He'll compete next time. I guarantee it," Bazile said.

It is also guaranteed that the battalion sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel S. Moriarty, and the battery executive officer, 1st Lt. Daniel S. Hunt, would participate in the next competition, which he expects to host in April, he said. There were three primary events, the bench press, the squat and the dead lift, and the Soldiers were broken up into the three weight classes: under 180 pounds, under 200 pounds and under 240 pounds. The fourth and final event was the bench-off, which, like the squat and the dead lift, was a one-off elimination match forcing competitors to execute a single repetition at each ascending weight level until all but one had dropped out.

"The bench press is normally the dominant factor in the gym. Plus, this being the month of the NFL Combine, we decided to go with the bench press at 225. We started at 225, because that is the weight most NFL scouts are looking for, and it's the strength that the Army bases our strength off of," Bazile said. In the 225-pound bench press for the 180-pound class, Edwards won with 12 repetitions, in the 200-pound class, Dobson won with 20 repetitions, and in the 240-pound class, Gawronski won with 28 repetitions.

Gunslingers Host COB Basra Strongman Contest

After declaring Dobson the overall winner, Bazile awarded him the grand prize: a camcorder. Spc. Nealy D. Edwards, 17th FiB, and Staff Sgt. Jay P. Gawronski, who won in their own weight classes, each received an Army digital camouflage-patterned 17th FiB backpack, and all competitors received Gunslinger tee-shirts. During the squat competition, each competitor starts with a barbell on the back of his neck and along his shoulders, "squats" from a standing position, and then returns to a standing position. "A Soldier needs to use his legs," Bazile said. The winners of the squat event - Edwards, Dobson and Gawronski - each executed a single rep at 465 pounds. "I raised it up to 495, but nobody could do it, so we had to dial it down," Bazile said.

For the dead lift, the competitor lifts the barbell from a hunched start and curls it over his knees as he stands up straight. "It's all about form and keeping your back straight and using your knees," Bazile said. "Knees to hip, then rock the back out." The winners of the dead lift - also Edwards, Dobson and Gawronski - were the night's Strongman "Troika". But, these were not easy victories. In the 180-pound class, Spc. Bobby G. Fowler, also of the 1st Bn., 377th FAR, was chasing Edwards all night. In the dead lift, he came the closest to beating Edwards, matching the winner's single rep of 360 pounds, but unable to pull 365. "I will be back. I know what to do now," Fowler said.

The event is a good way for Soldiers to learn their own limitations, Bazile said. "During a deployment, a lot of Soldiers use weightlifting to pass the time and enhance their strength," he said. "Events like this one tell the Soldiers where they are compared to their goals and aspirations." In April, three new events will be included, Bazile said. In addition to bench pressing on an incline and decline bench, there will be a straight-bar curling event.

Although the event was open to all Soldiers, the first sergeant said he could not convince any of the female Soldiers he sees at the gym to compete this time. "There were three or four female Soldiers who told me they will compete in the next competition," he said. In the post-competition crosstalk, Edwards put out that, because Dobson was in a heavier weight class, he was staking his own title claim: "Pound-for-pound, I am the strongest man." It will all be resolved in April when the next competition is held, Bazile said. Until then, Dobson is the strongest man on COB Basra. "He took on all comers," Bazile said.

Cutlines:

Gunslingers Strongman Competition

The judge and organizer of the March 1, 2010, Gunslinger Strongman Competition at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, 1st Sgt. Derrick Bazile, 1st Battalion "Gunslingers," 377th Field Artillery Regiment, watches to see if Pfc. Matthew A. Moses fully extends on this 225-pound bench press. The Gunslingers, an element of the 17th Fires Brigade, are the only air assault battalion in its branch.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th FiB PAO)

 

Gunslingers Strongman Competition

Contest judge 1st Sgt. Derek Q. Bazile, 1st Battalion "Gunslingers," 377th Field Artillery Regiment, watches Staff Sgt. Jay P. Gowronski, also 1st Bn., attempt a squat in the March 1, 2010, Gunslinger Strongman Competition at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq. Gowronski won the squat event in his weight class with a squat of 465 pounds. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th FiB PAO)

 

Gunslingers Strongman Competition

Spc. Nealy D. Edwards (right), 1st Battalion "Gunslingers," 377th Field Artillery Regiment, hands Spc. Bobby G. Fowler, also 1st Bn., straps to use in the dead lift event at the March 1, 2010, Gunslinger Strongman competition at Contingency Operating Base Basra. Edwards beat Fowler in their weight class when he could not match Edward's 365-pound dead lift.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th FiB PAO)

 

Gunslingers Strongman Competition

Before wrapping up the title with five repetitions at 315 pounds in the final "bench-off" of the March 1, 2010, Gunslinger Strongman Competition at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, Spc. Travis E. Dobson, 1st Battalion "Gunslingers," 377th Field Artillery Regiment, has his arms bandaged to support the elbows. Before joining the Army, Travis played semi-pro football near his Long Beach, Calif., home.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th FiB PAO)

 


For queries, contact the United States Division - South Public Affairs at USD-S_PAO@iraq.centcom.mil; by phone at (Iraqna) 0790-194-2865 or 770-263-9379. For more USDS news, visit our Web site: www.dangerforward.us.

 





Natural Bodybuilding | Growth Factor-1 | Discount Bodybuilding Supplements | Gain Weight Fast | Big Arms | How To Get Ripped
Weight Lifting Programs | Weight Lifting Equipment | Weight Training Articles | Weight Lifting Workouts | Workout Routines
Bench Press Routine | Bench Press Workout | Increase Bench Press | Bench Press Records | Bench Press Chart
Lean Body Mass | How To Run Faster | Bodybuilding Tips | Athlete Celebrity Interviews | Muscle Growth Stories
Muscular System | Healthy Bodybuilding Recipes | Muscle Man | Female Bodybuilders | Weight Lifting Exercises
Powerlifting | Dumbbell Exercise | Muscle Bodybuilding T Shirts | Vince Gironda | Vince Delmonte | Jennifer Nicole Lee
Weight Lifting Accessory | Football Strength Workout | Weight Lifting Belts | Mike Geary
Bench Press | Fitness Links | How To Gain Weight Fast | Strength Blog | Build Muscle Fast | Workout Reviews | Workout Videos
Weight Lifting & Weight Training Tips For Building Muscle Strength
 
Fitness Models | Strongman | Muscle Building Nutrition | Muscle Growth | Muscle Building Experts

Supplements: Testosterone Booster | Super Fat Burner | Beta Alanine | Creatine Caps | Nitric Oxide NO2 | Muscle Building Supplements | Post Workout Supplement

Articles: Bench Press Tips | Supplement Reviews | Muscular Strength | Bodybuilding Nutrition | Fitness Health | Muscle Building
Fat Loss Tips