Nearly three dozen Marines will square off this summer Aug. 15-18 in a bid to become the Corps’ ultimate tactical athletes — and this competition is as hardcore as it gets.

The High Intensity Tactical Training Ultimate Tactical Athlete Championship will include roughly 30 events such as a 100-yard, uphill climb with an 80-pound pack to retrieve and return ammo cans; 10 cannonball push-ups while wearing 40-pound vest; a 300-pound chain drag; a 400-meter speed lap with a 40-pound vest, weapon, and ammo can.

And that is just for starters.

This second annual event will be held at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, from Aug. 15 through 18. Thirty-two It will pit 32 active-duty Marines who take top spots in preliminary events held at various installations through July 1 will square off during the championship. Marines Prospective competitors can apply to compete at local Semper Fit and Recreation offices or installation fitness centers across the Corps.

Competitor's in last year's inaugural event quickly identified the need for committed training and a lot of heart to help push through.

"Do something every single day that will better yourself in some way," said Cpl. Jonathan Fuller, who competed last year on behalf of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. This can be done by using a HITT center or locker located on Marine bases. The program is also available online at www.usmc-mccs.org/HITT, and a free mobile app can be downloaded to any mobile device by visiting iTunes or Google Play.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Enrique Laguna, a telecommunications officer with 8th Communications Battalion, sprints from cone to cone during the 2016 Tactical Athlete of the Year competition at the High Intensity Tactical Training center on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, June 13. The competition is being held yearly to find the fittest tactical athletes in the Marine Corps. Winners from Marine Corps Installations – East will go on to compete at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to earn the title of Tactical Athlete of the Year.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Enrique Laguna, a telecommunications officer with 8th Communications Battalion, sprints during the tactical athlete of the year competition at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on June 13. The competition is being held yearly to find the fittest tactical athletes in the Marine Corps.

Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Sean Berry/Marine Corps

The grueling championship combines tactical skills and athleticism to push mental and physical strength to the limit. The gauntlet is held over three days and includes comprised of events in five categories: The HITT assessment, 300-yard power shuttle, tactical hill climb, VirTra Systems — battle skills challenge, and the tactical fitness challenge.

"We are in the final stages of our preparation and currently determining how the competition course will be constructed," said Ryan Massimo, HITT Program Manager. "One of our favorite aspects of this competition and what we feel sets it apart from other events of its kind, is the fact that Marines may be introduced to new challenges each year."

Staff Sgt. Vincent Huggan flips a tire for 100 yards during the Tactical Athlete Challenge aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort July 29. One male and one female from MCAS Beaufort will be selected as winners and advance to the next challenge. Huggan is a training chief with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31.

Staff Sgt. Vincent Huggan flips a tire for 100 yards during the tactical athlete challenge aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., on July 29. One male and one female from MCAS Beaufort will be selected as winners and advance to the next challenge.

Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Jonah Lovy/Marine Corps

The HITT program categories include the following events. The final course will be revealed to competitors on the day of the event. Marines can expect events in the following categories.

The HITT assessment, which includes two trials for each event:

  • 25-yard dash.
  • 5-10-5 shuttle.
  • 3-cone drill.
  • Standing long jump.
  • Medicine ball chest pass.
  • 300-yard shuttle (1 trial).

The 300-yard power shuttle:

  • 10 cannonball pushups with 40-pound vest (20-pound for women).
  • Down and back/30 yards each direction plus five pullups with 40-pound vest (20-pound for women).
  • Down — sled drive at 90 pounds for 30 yards plus VirTra Simulator T1.
  • Back — Tire flip for 30 yards plus 100-pound water keg clean and press five times without dropping.
  • Down — 300-pound chain drag for 30 yards plus VirTra Systems Simulator T2.
  • Back —120-pound DBall carry plus five trap bar deadlifts of 265 pounds (215 pounds for women).
  • Down — Pole flip for 30 yards plus VirTra Systems Simulator T3.
  • Back — 100-pound farmers walk for 50 yards plus five squats of 225 pounds (185 pounds for women).
  • Down — 90-pound sled pull for 30 yards plus VirTra Systems Simulator T4.
  • Back — 140-pound dummy carry plus 50-pound kettlebell overhead lunge (35 pounds for women) and dist. 55 percent of height.

Tactical hill climb:

  • Uphill with 80-pound pack for 100 yards, retrieve and return two ammo cans.
  • Uphill with simulated crew-served weapon for 100 yards, retrieve and return two ammo cans.
  • Uphill with 90-pound dummy (70 pounds for women) for 100 yards, retrieve and return two ammo cans.
  • Uphill with Humvee tire for 100 yards, retrieve and return two ammo cans.

VirTra systems — battle skills challenge:

  • 90-pound ballistic rubber block, clean and press 10 times (5 for women) plus VirTra T1.
  • 90-pound DBall, clean and press 10 times (5 for women) plus VirTra T2.
  • 90-pound barbell, clean and press 10 times (5 for women) plus VirTra T3.
  • 90-pound sand bag, clean and press 10 times (5 for women) plus VirTra T4.

Tactical fitness challenge:

  • 400-meter speed lap with 40-pound vest, red gun and ammo can.
  • 400-meter evasion / threat lap with 40-pound vest, red gun and ammo can.
  • 400-meter tactical fitness course (details to follow).

Cpl. Joshua Boozer, an ammunition technician with 1st Tank Battalion at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, took top honors among the men in last year's inaugural event. He said endurance was his greatest struggle, especially during the tactical uphill climb — four 100-yard runs, each laden with a heavy load such as a pack, a crew-served weapon, a dummy, and even a Humvee tire. Marksmanship was tested atop each hill.

That's just part of what Such events are only one of the challenges competitors should can expect. Squaring off against some of the most elite tactical athletes in the Marine Corps proved a mental challenge for Staff Sgt. Lauren Schoener, who took top honors among women last year.

Staff Sgt. Lauren Schoener, Provost Marshal's Office, Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, competes in the military press during the Battle Skills Challenge of the High Intensity Tactical Training Ultimate Athlete Championship at Del Valle Field, aboard the Combat Center, Sept. 15, 2015. (Official Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Connor Hancock)

Staff Sgt. Lauren Schoener, last year's top female performer during the High Intensity Tactical Training Ultimate Athlete Championship, lifts weights during the challenge.

Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Connor Hancock/Marine Corps

"The nervous jitters like most Marines feel before [physical and combat fitness tests] was amplified because we knew we were competing against Marines who could probably out [train]PT us on any given day," she said following Schoener said after her victory. Carrying heavy, odd-shaped objects also proved challenging for Schoener, who represented Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, and is a CrossFit instructor in her off time.

The Corps launched the HITT program in 2012. It is a series of 150 pre-designed workouts aimed to develop and maintain physical resiliency and combat readiness.

Endorsed by the National Strength and Conditioning Association's Tactical Strength and Conditioning Department, the program includes predeployment, deployment and post-deployment phases. Coordinators can also create their own workout templates.

The HITT program It is meant to hone skills and strength in everything from running ammunition o cans to dragging wounded comrades out of the line of fire — all in full battle rattle.

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