Commiskey workout - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Commiskey workout

The workout is named for 1st Lt. Henry Commiskey, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War.

Needed

• An 18½-inch-tall box [a park bench can be used as an alternative].

• A 53-pound kettle bell.

The moves

This timed workout requires three rounds of:

1. Do 40 box jumps, making sure to stand up straight before jumping back to the ground.

2. Do 30 push-ups.

3. Swing a 53-pound kettle bell 20 times.

History

1. Commiskey launched an assault on hostile forces near Yongdungp’o, Korea, on Sept. 20, 1950. He and his men ran 40 yards up a steep slope in pursuit of the enemy, who was dug in on Hill 85. The box jumps simulate Commiskey’s motion as he charged up the hill.

2. Armed only with a pistol, Commiskey jumped into a machine gun emplacement and killed four out of five enemy troops. He wrestled the fifth to the ground and killed him using a fellow Marine’s weapon.

3. Commiskey moved onto the next machine gun emplacement and killed two more enemy troops. He and his platoon then chased down and killed the rest as they tried to flee. The total number of push-ups and kettle bell swings for each round represent the number of enemies they killed.