They climbed a rope ladder and hoisted themselves over hurdles, dragged tires and grinded out sit-ups and chin-ups, all on the front lawn of III Corps Headquarters.
Mixing an Army basic training style workout with an active, whirlwind tour of the military lifestyle, athletes from Killeen ISD’s five high schools received a unique look Tuesday of a very impressive neighbor.
About 646 male and female athletes, mixed with some Junior ROTC cadets and other students, took up the challenge from III Corps Public Affairs for a morning workout styled like Army basic training and a career expo featuring the corps’ impressive inventory of rolling armor.
Twenty KISD buses pulled up a few at a time at the edge of the III Corps parade grounds and a cadre of drill sergeants gave them an appropriate Army welcome.
Wearing the colors of five different schools, students disembarked the buses and ran between two rows of soldiers, who shouted their encouragement and correction.
They formed up into school teams and began seated next to each other, locked arms and did push-ups together while repeating a cadence.
That exercise set the stage for a full morning of workout stations spread across the grass in front of the massive headquarters building on Fort Cavazos.
III Corps Public Affairs Officer Leroy Betts, III, said the event was meant to provide the kind of team bonding and discipline that athletes are accustomed to in their usual training while giving them a glimpse of the military life.
Coaches and student athletes seemed to enjoy all of it from the challenge to the physicality, the discipline and the time together.
“I think all of us coaches love that they are taking instruction from someone else,” said Chaparral Athletic Coordinator Tyrell McCrea. “They’re getting what we give them daily. I’m loving it.
“I think the location of where we are, a lot of them have that mindset because they have seen it in their family. It’s a lifestyle for them.”
Ellison sophomore volleyball player Ja’Lya Swiney said she is considering the military after high school, and she appreciated the Army’s high level of discipline on display during the visit.
“It was definitely a wake-up call,” she said. “I personally thought about going into the Army. I want to be disciplined, and they are showing us how to be disciplined. I’m very grateful for this experience.”
She also liked the chance to bond with her teammates in a special way. “We’re going to have to have each other’s back. If we can encourage one another now, we will encourage each other on the court.”
Killeen High School sophomore football and baseball player D’Angelo Ingram said the workout was consistent with what he is used to as an athlete. He was excited to participate with the large, varied group from five high schools.
“It’s good. I like the energy. It’s exciting and I get to meet new people,” he said. “We get to feel the Army experience. It’s something different.”
Harker Heights Athletic Coordinator Mark Humble praised Fort Cavazos leaders for hosting the district’s athletes and agreed that the experience emphasized the same values of teamwork and excellence they get in high school athletics.
Shoemaker volleyball coach Merdith Shaw-Moore was ready to jump in with her students.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our kids. It exposes them to military training, and it relates to our summer workouts and correlates to being an athlete,” she said. “Strength, endurance and power are important. They are enjoying it. They didn’t know what to expect. It all ties into them being athletes.”
III Corps first hosted a group of Harker Heights High School male athletes in 2017 and 2018, then expanded the event to include Killeen High School in 2019, before hosting all of KISD’s four high schools at the time in 2020.
This year’s Basic Training and Career Expo expanded to KISD’s five high schools with male and female athletes.
“Everything they did today is going to help propel them in their seasons,” said Betts, explaining that the drill sergeants emphasized teamwork and attention to detail in the challenges athletes experienced.
III Corps visit photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720324212367
