MCRD Parris Island, S.C. -- Combat conditioning and functional fitness take on a whole new meaning when Mike Company's first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Jean-Paul Courville, pushes the wheel.
With kettle bells, old tractor tires, sledge hammers and resistance bands, the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion's P.T.-junkie put his imagination to the test and created a physical training session that's got his Marines flipping tires.
"I wanted to do something different,"Courville said. "Something that would carry a mindset - intelligence, integrity and intensity.
"Everything we do in recruit training has a meaning,"he added. "P.T. sessions are not an exception to the rule."
It starts out normally enough. They participate in a warm up distance run before beginning their series of intense core training.
Courville then demonstrates the exercises to show the correct form. It's a sick sort of"follow the leader" game. It's one that's not for the faint of heart or weak body.
Some of the exercises include resistance exercises, which are completed by attaching an elastic rope to the waist causing a negative pull. There's also tire flipping, which exercises the upper body. Those are followed by agility drills, which help increase speed. If that weren't enough, then it's time to swing some big hammers. Sledge hammers are pounded against a tire, which helps build back, arm and shoulder strength.
"We get it going at least once a week,"Courville said. "It's better than just drinking coffee or an energy drink. It's a natural booster."
Courville explained the P.T. sessions are often held in front of recruits.
"We do it while we have down time,"Courville explained. "As long as those participating have no supervisory obligations, we are good to go."
Courville said conducting this kind of P.T. when recruits are in eyes'view, gives them a goal for which they can strive.
"They get to see their drill instructors working together completing each obstacle, pushing their bodies to become stronger,"Courville explained. "What better message is there to convey? They lead by example."
During the conditioning P.T. sessions, Courville uses unconventional objects to give his Marines a run for their money. It's nothing new for Courville.
From a young age, Courville used different items around his garage as strengthening tools and was adamant about training in the elements. Now that he is a leader of a training company, he incorporated the same concept, allowing his Marines to maximize their potential with little money spent, and in an environment other than the conventional gym.
The concept is gaining a fan base.
"It's something I enjoy,"said Gunnery Sgt. Shane Pevehouse, lead series gunnery sergeant at Mike Company. "It's a good time - a little different from the conventional three-mile run and some pull-ups."
It's not just the interesting exercises that are drawing Marines to the P.T. sessions. It's also the teamwork.
"The P.T. brings everybody together,"said Staff Sgt. Randy Barlow, a senior drill instructor at the company."We work together, but at the same time we still have competition. It's camaraderie. It gets us away from our daily routines and allows us to have some time together."
Courville hopes his men carry lessons learned from this training experience throughout their lives.
"Hopefully, they will remember to do something different,"Courville said. "Every job should be creative and challenging. It should shock the system."
It's not just a shock to the system though. They are the building blocks to the same lessons taught by generations of Marines.
"Mental and physical toughness are just a foundation leading to additional themes such as values, training and professional military education at Mike Co.,"he added.