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Project Warrior Makes Changes to 62 Weight Room

By 2nd Lt. Chris Villarreal, Class of 2009

Last semester, a cadet had the opportunity to align an academic requirement with a need at the U.S. Military Academy.

The Class of 1962 supported a large scale Dept. of Civil and Mechanical Engineering CE489 cadet project called Project Warrior that produced a facility to allow cadets the space they need to better train in the ‘62 Weight Room in Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center.

It was the catalyst that brought people from all corners of the West Point community together to create a space for cadets to train at the leading edge of fi tness.

Functional fi tness, a growing trend among the Corps of Cadets and Army units and also referred to as CrossFit training, focuses on increasing work capacity across a broad range of time and fi tness domains.

It mixes Olympic weight lifting, gymnastics, rowing, kettle bells, sprinting, body weight movements, endurance running and plyometrics to prepare athletes to handle any physical situation. Exposing cadets to functional fi tness training while at West Point will enable them to bring this knowledge to their units and incorporate it into their platoons’ physical training plans.

The project initially began as an idea between cadets and Majs. James Maxwell and Dan Blackmon, Dept. of Military Instruction, in the fall semester of 2008. Each Friday at 5:30 a.m., more than 100 cadets and some offi cers showed up for a group CrossFit workout in Arvin or at the River Courts. Members of this group then began to meet every weekday morning for a CrossFit workout.

Eventually, the group increased in size and needed more space. At the same time, Arvin was battling interior damages because cadets brought weights into the hallways to work out because of a lack of space in the ‘62 Room.

Scuff marks and chips in the drywall appeared throughout the walkways as cadets began to workout in areas of the gym not designed for these activities. Many of these cadets were the ones doing functional fi tness training because the current design of the weight room did not allow enough space to perform these exercises effectively.

By December, the Dept. of Physical Education recognized the need to create a functional fi tness area, not only to protect Arvin, but to further enhance cadet physical development. With the help of Maj. Shawn Bault, the benefi ts and utility of introducing a functional fi tness area in Arvin were outlined for the DPE staff. Maj. Adam Chalmers and CME embraced this opportunity to create a project that not only challenged the engineering ability of a cadet but also benefi tted the academy.

The vision was to create an area that could support 40 cadets conducting functional fi tness training all at one time. The room would consist of a cadet-designed and fabricated steel pull-up bar structure along with purchased equipment. The fi rst phase of the project involved constructing the steel pull-up bar apparatus capable of supporting 18 people at once.

This involved considerable structural analysis and design to build a structure that could handle the dynamic load of multiple cadets working out concurrently. Cadets fabricated the structure with guidance from Rich Ellingsen, a certifi ed welder and CME lab technician.

The Directorate of Information Management Fabrication Branch textured the bars on the pull-up structure with Mike Soffos and Robert Labrise donating a considerable amount of time guiding each 6-foot bar slowly through the lathe. The second phase of the project involved selecting a location to house the pull-up bar structure and the rest of the equipment purchased through a private supplier and encompassed a considerable amount of project management to ensure that all functional requirements were fi lled and project deadlines were completed on time.

The Directorate of Public Works provided engineering, structural and building code consultation.

Working with project manager Tim Pillsworth, each possible location for the new area was inspected for its capability to support the project. Just like at any post, space at West Point is a precious commodity, and many options were considered before selecting the ‘62 Weight Room.

Scott Swanson from the Directorate of Intercollegiate Athletics helped layout the new area with his knowledge of gym design and equipment selection.

The fi nished project created new opportunities for different workouts by cadets, and the planners did not want to detract from the existing room’s utility by eliminating any current equipment. Spatial analysis was performed to ensure that none of the existing machines in the `62 Room would be moved out.

Project Warrior was supported by the Cadet Education and Travel Fund, which is sustained exclusively by alumni donations and endowments through AOG.

The Class of ‘62 and Lt. Col. Scott and Debra Wales fi nanced the bulk of the equipment.

The new area is now equipped with medicine balls, kettle bells, barbells, rubber bumper plates, racks, rubber matting and other functional fi tness equipment.

Cadets began using the space almost immediately and the response from the Corps was an overwhelmingly positive. When everything is all said and done, the hope is this space will go far in preparing cadets to become better platoon leaders and fi ght the nation’s wars.Last semester, a cadet had the opportunity to align an academic requirement with a need at the U.S. Military Academy.

The Class of 1962 supported a large scale Dept. of Civil and Mechanical Engineering CE489 cadet project called Project Warrior that produced a facility to allow cadets the space they need to better train in the ‘62 Weight Room in Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center.

It was the catalyst that brought people from all corners of the West Point community together to create a space for cadets to train at the leading edge of fitness.

Functional fitness, a growing trend among the Corps of Cadets and Army units and also referred to as CrossFit training, focuses on increasing work capacity across a broad range of time and fitness domains.

It mixes Olympic weight lifting, gymnastics, rowing, kettle bells, sprinting, body weight movements, endurance running and plyometrics to prepare athletes to handle any physical situation. Exposing cadets to functional fitness training while at West Point will enable them to bring this knowledge to their units and incorporate it into their platoons’ physical training plans.

The project initially began as an idea between cadets and Majs. James Maxwell and Dan Blackmon, Dept. of Military Instruction, in the fall semester of 2008. Each Friday at 5:30 a.m., more than 100 cadets and some officers showed up for a group CrossFit workout in Arvin or at the River Courts. Members of this group then began to meet every weekday morning for a CrossFit workout.

Eventually, the group increased in size and needed more space. At the same time, Arvin was battling interior damages because cadets brought weights into the hallways to work out because of a lack of space in the ‘62 Room.

Scuff marks and chips in the drywall appeared throughout the walkways as cadets began to workout in areas of the gym not designed for these activities. Many of these cadets were the ones doing functional fitness training because the current design of the weight room did not allow enough space to perform these exercises effectively.

By December, the Dept. of Physical Education recognized the need to create a functional fitness area, not only to protect Arvin, but to further enhance cadet physical development. With the help of Maj. Shawn Bault, the benefits and utility of introducing a functional fitness area in Arvin were outlined for the DPE staff. Maj. Adam Chalmers and CME embraced this opportunity to create a project that not only challenged the engineering ability of a cadet but also benefitted the academy.

The vision was to create an area that could support 40 cadets conducting functional fitness training all at one time. The room would consist of a cadet-designed and fabricated steel pull-up bar structure along with purchased equipment. The first phase of the project involved constructing the steel pull-up bar apparatus capable of supporting 18 people at once.

This involved considerable structural analysis and design to build a structure that could handle the dynamic load of multiple cadets working out concurrently. Cadets fabricated the structure with guidance from Rich Ellingsen, a certified welder and CME lab technician.

The Directorate of Information Management Fabrication Branch textured the bars on the pull-up structure with Mike Soffos and Robert Labrise donating a considerable amount of time guiding each 6-foot bar slowly through the lathe. The second phase of the project involved selecting a location to house the pull-up bar structure and the rest of the equipment purchased through a private supplier and encompassed a considerable amount of project management to ensure that all functional requirements were filled and project deadlines were completed on time.

The Directorate of Public Works provided engineering, structural and building code consultation.

Working with project manager Tim Pillsworth, each possible location for the new area was inspected for its capability to support the project. Just like at any post, space at West Point is a precious commodity, and many options were considered before selecting the ‘62 Weight Room.

Scott Swanson from the Directorate of Intercollegiate Athletics helped layout the new area with his knowledge of gym design and equipment selection.

The finished project created new opportunities for different workouts by cadets, and the planners did not want to detract from the existing room’s utility by eliminating any current equipment. Spatial analysis was performed to ensure that none of the existing machines in the `62 Room would be moved out.

Project Warrior was supported by the Cadet Education and Travel Fund, which is sustained exclusively by alumni donations and endowments through AOG.

The Class of ‘62 and Lt. Col. Scott and Debra Wales financed the bulk of the equipment.

The new area is now equipped with medicine balls, kettle bells, barbells, rubber bumper plates, racks, rubber matting and other functional fitness equipment.

Cadets began using the space almost immediately and the response from the Corps was an overwhelmingly positive. When everything is all said and done, the hope is this space will go far in preparing cadets to become better platoon leaders and fight the nation’s wars.