Rangers train at LaGrange College pool
Feb. 24 , 2008
Though far different from a combat zone, the LaGrange College natatorium was the training ground this week for 22 seasoned Army Rangers based at Ft. Benning.
The group of squad and team leaders took part in six hours of pool instruction and one hour of classroom training as part of the Ranger Athlete Warrior program.
“We’re look at ourselves now as more of an athlete,” said Capt. Mark Ivezaj, A Company Commander in the 3rd Ranger Battalion, in describing the physical demands placed upon his men. “We need to sustain ourselves for both long periods and short bursts.”
With an emphasis on building physical strength and injury prevention, the program provides special training for Ranger leaders who take the instruction back to share with those under their command.
All of the men in the pool this week had recently returned from either Afghanistan or Iraq. Among them was Staff Sgt. Chastin Tedesco from Altaloma, Calif.
“This is really going to help us with our cardio,” he said on Friday. “The other day we did a 15-minute (continuous) swim. It’s a total-body workout.
“I learned a lot of lessons here and hope to start incorporating them into our PT (Physical Training) program we do each morning.”
Working with the group were LaGrange College swim coach Susie Brown and graduate assistant Matt Montgomery. The college provided the facility at no charge.
“It’s pretty convenient that we had this type of opportunity so close to us,” Ivezaj said. “Susie’s been great. They’re teaching us how to do it right.”
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