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'Gunsligers' Host COB Basra Strongman Contest

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq - Needing to bench press 315 pounds one time in the final Bench Off for the title at the March 1 Gunslinger Strongman Competition, Spc. Travis E. Dobson, of Long Beach, Calif., pumped out five extensions.

"He is a strong Soldier, full of stamina," said 1st Sgt. Derek Q. Bazile, the first sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, an element of the 17th Fires Brigade deployed here. The competition was held at the Gunslinger Gym at Camp Allenby, the battalion's compound at the COB.

Spc. Nealy D. Edwards (right), 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, "Gunslingers," hands Spc. Bobby G. Fowler, 1-377, straps to use in the Dead Lift event at the Gunslinger Strongman competition here. 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 Fires Brigade PAO

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." There were more than 25 Soldiers and civilians who attended the event as spectators.

The judge and organizer of the Gunslinger Strongman Competition here, 1st Sgt. Derrick Bazile, 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, "Gunslingers," watches to see if Private First Class 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 Fires Brigade PAO

One Soldier who wanted to stay and compete, but could not because of another obligation was Sgt. Maj. Garret L. Spencer, the 1-377 operations sergeant major, Bazile said. Spencer was there to lend support at the contest opening and was demonstrated the perfect bench press technique for the competitors. "He'll compete next time. I guarantee it."

It was also guaranteed that his battalion sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel S. Moriarty and his battery executive officer, 1st Lt. Daniel S. Hunt, would participate in the next competition he expects to host in April, he said.

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 class group, received ACU patterned 17th FiB backpacks, and all competitors received Gunslinger tee-shirts.

There were three main 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.

Before wrapping up the title with five reps at 315 pounds in the final Bench Off of the Gunslinger Strongman Competition here, Spc. Travis E. Dobson, 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, "Gunslingers," has his arms bandaged to support the elbows. Joining the Army, Travis played semi-pro football near his Long Beach, Calif., home. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th Fires Brigade PAO

"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," he said. In the 225 pound Bench Press 180 Class, Edwards won with 12 reps. In the 200 Class, Dobson won with 20 reps. In the 240 Class, Gawronski won with 28 reps.

In the squats, the Soldier started with a barbell on his back of the neck and along his shoulders, and then "squats" from a standing start and then returns to standing. "A Soldier needs to use his legs," he 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.

Contest judge First Sgt. Derek Q. Bazile, 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, "Gunslingers," watches Staff Sgt. Jay P. Gowronski, 1-377, attempt squat in the Gunslinger Strongman Competition here. Gowronski won this event in his weight class with a squat of 465 pounds. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neil W. McCabe, 17th Fires Brigade PAO

In the Dead Lift event, the competitor, lifts the barbell from a hunched start, and then curls it over his knees as he stands up straight. "It's all about form and keeping your back straight and using your knees," he said. "Knees to hip, then rock the back out."

The winners of the Dead Lift, as well, Edwards, Dobson and Gawronski, were the night's Strongman Troika. But, these were not easy victories.

In the 180 Class, Spc. Bobby G. Fowler, also of the 1-377, 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 execute at 365. "I will be back. I know what to do now," he said.

Bazile said, "During a deployment, a lot of Soldiers use weight lifting to pass the time and enhance their strength. Events like this one tell the Soldiers where they are compared to their goals and aspirations."

Next time, there will be three new events, he said. In addition to bench pressing on an incline and decline, there will be a straight-bar curling event, he said.

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. "There were three or four female Soldiers, who told me they will compete in the next competition."

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."