SGT Autumn Hope, fitness trainer for the 314th PAOC, keeps a watchful eye on Soldiers during a fitness test at FOB Prosperity. (Photo by SSG Paul Roberts)

Yes, our days here in Iraq are numbered, but that does not mean the 314th PAOC has slowed down.  In fact, things have sped up — especially for a handful of Soldiers that took a fitness test very early things morning.

In early October, SPC James Clifton, SPC Justin Wright, SGT Emily Anderson and SGT Brad Richardson began an intensive physical training program under the watchful eye of own SGT Autumn Hope.  She volunteered to help these four Soldiers as they prepared for their upcoming Warrior Leader Course at Fort Dix in early December.  The course requires that Soldiers pass a fitness test on the first day. 

Hope also included PFC Christine Bernat as one of her students.   Bernat had only one final hurdle to qualify for advancement to the rank of specialist: to pass today’s fitness test. 

A lean, mean PFC Christine Bernat burns up the running course on FOB Prosperity. (Photo by SSG Paul Roberts)

Those of you familiar with our blog recognize Hope as the winner of the FOB Prosperity Tactical  Strength Challenge and also our unit’s top scorer on the Army Physical Fitness Test (with a score of more than 300).   She spent each afternoon for a month sharing her training secrets and pushing the Soldiers to their limits to prepare them for the test.

The weather today was perfect for a fitness test — cool, dry and calm — as the Soldiers began their stretching.  At 0530 exactly, SFC Adam Daley read the instructions for the test and Hope demonstrated the proper form.   Soldiers have two minutes to do as many pushups and situps as possible, with a minimum required to pass.

About 0550, those two portions of the fitness test were over, and each Soldier, including the five with a huge investment in the results, had passed — some increasing their scores by 10-20 points in the events, thanks to the fitness training of Hope.

LTC Ignacio Perez, Commander of the 314th PAOC, drives a Gator and blasts his air horn to alert oncoming traffic that speedy 314th runners are not far behind. (Photo by SSG Paul Roberts)

The Soldiers then moved to a half-mile track for the last event – a two-mile run where Soldiers need to finish without exceeding a maximum amount of time.  For most of today’s runners, this was a challenge since the recent dusty, hot summer in Baghdad had kept them on a treadmill for training until the last month. 

As they started, it was apparent they had trained well.  They moved quickly down the track, and spotted LTC Ignacio Perez, our unit commander approaching them on a Gator four-wheeled vehicle.  He rode by each of them shouting encouragement to the Soldiers.  After he passed by he sounded an air horn to alert everyone on the track and oncoming Humvees and MRAPs that 314th Soldiers were on their way.

When the run was finished, each of the Soldiers has completed the two miles in passing times, with one taking almost four minutes off a previous run times…but the best was yet to come. 

As the unit came together in the afternoon to celebrate the success of all the Soldeirs, PFC Bernat was called forward by the commander, and each of her fellow Soldiers cheered her as she was advanced to the rank of specialist.

LTC Perez affixes SPC Bernat's new rank during a promotion ceremony at the CPIC. (Photo by SGM Troy Falardeau)

With that promotion, the 314th PAOC record for promotions over the past year increased to nearly 70 percent. 

Congratulations to all of Soldiers who passed today’s APFT!