Las Vegas MP’s visit high country

Dick Benoit

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 9:50 a.m.

Twenty five Nevada Army National Guardsmen from the Las Vegas headquarters and Ely detachment recently completed two weeks of annual training in Exercise Fierce Mercy near Fort William Harrison, Mont.

The soldiers, all members of the 72nd Military Police Co., provided security for critical radio communications towers located high in the mountains near the Continental Divide west of Helena, Mont.

The Guardsmen also served as opposing forces in training operations against soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Special Forces Group of the Utah Army National Guard.

Pvt. Michael Roe of Las Vegas said the altitude was a challenge for the soldiers, especially combined with the rigors of patrolling such a large area along a mountainside.

"The road marches are tough up the hill," he said.

Another Las Vegas MP, Sgt. Calvin Stephens, added that the Montana experience gave the soldiers what they wanted: a realistic environment.

"It's what we train to do," he said.

Col. Frank Gonzales, deputy commander of Army Guard for Nevada, recognized one Las Vegas soldier for exemplary performance. Pvt. Sosafina Wonwui, a UNLV student, was commended for providing excellent operational security for the group.

Later this summer other members of the 72nd will travel to the Republic of South Korea for a two-week exercise.

Air Force expands fitness tests

Neighbors of Nellis Air Force Base personnel will likely see a more "lean, mean" man or woman in uniform as new fitness requirements for the troops take effect.

For several years the Air Force has required only aerobic fitness testing of its members, which amounted to a cardiac monitored stationary bike ride called the cycle ergometry test. Cycle ergometry replaced the old 1.5-mile run with age-specific time limits that had been the previous standard.

Beginning Monday, however, the Air Force will include some physical strength and endurance tests. The troops, from generals on down to airmen basic, annually will have to perform a minimum number of push-ups and crunches -- modified sit-ups -- to meet the Air Force minimum total physical fitness requirements.

"Total fitness includes cardiovascular capacity, muscular strength, flexibility and body composition," Gen. Michael E. Ryan, the Air Force chief of staff, said.

The push-up requirements for men and women differ, but the crunch requirements are the same. Airmen under 24 years will have to complete 53 crunches within two minutes. A 55-year-old general will have to complete 27 crunches within the same two minutes.

Women under 24 years will have to complete 19 push-ups within two minutes while men will be required to complete 42. Women over 50 will be required to perform eight push-ups in that time and men will be required to do 18.

According to Air Force officials, total pass/fail standards for the new tests will not be decided until 2002, giving the service an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the new requirements.