Home > Corporate > Media Centre
Valcartier–PSP Pre-Deployment Support
By Normand Brault
PSP fitness instructors |
With the likelihood of two operational deployments in 2006, Col Marquis Hainse, Commander 5 CMBG, requested PSP support to enhance the fitness level of his troops.
The Valcartier Sports Centre staff responded by organizing competitions and events focusing on individual fitness. Phase one determined the brigade’s fitness at the Commander 5 CMBG’s Challenge in May 2005. More than 2,000 military members were tested on the same day by our PSP fitness instructors. The assessment began with a five kilometre race, followed by push-ups, sit-ups, and chin-ups. Six months later, the same assessment was repeated, enabling commanders at all levels to determine their soldiers’ fitness levels.To further awaken the fighting spirit, fitness coordinator Michel Lambert organized an inter-unit competition on the obstacle course.
Our instructors participated, and won the Palme d’Or for the individual race, thanks to Vincent Meunier, who finished in a record time of four minutes, 53 seconds. Second place went to Gunner Patrice Côté of 5 RALC, who finished in five minutes, 15 seconds, much to the delight of our director, a former artilleryman.
Commander’s Challenge |
The year ended with the Sports Centre Challenge that Michel Lambert had proposed for all Valcartier military personnel at the sports award gala last June. Our members had to break the records established by PSP fitness instructors to win everlasting fame by having their names added to the honour roll at the Sports Centre entrance. The competition was fierce, and records were broken!
At his formal orders group on December 14, Col Hainse and the 5 CMBG Commanding Officers expressed their heartfelt thanks to the Valcartier Sports Centre team for the multiple initiatives that helped improve the physical fitness of troops for future deployments.