Wingman Accountability

With our travels, Lindsay and I end up completing many of our workouts from the road and in isolation. When we can, we try to find Crossfit Gyms where we can convene with other like minded Crossfitters for an inspired workout.

Personal accountability for your fitness goals is essential, but having a wingman to help hold you accountable is a huge blessing. Whether working out in a group at the base gym in Iraq or hammering out a WOD in the new Verve facility - - athletes tend to hold themselves to a higher standard amongst their peers.

Consider the analogies as they relate to these military wingman principles.

The leading fighter ace of WWII, Eric Hartman, claims his greatest accomplishment was never losing a wingman. My fighter squadron was blessed with great wingman when we patrolled the skies of Iraq. Some of the same wingman would stick around after I was done teaching Crossfit and ensure that I pushed myself through my own workout.

An even better example of a wingman: Naval Petty Officer Mike Monsoor:

PO2 (EOD2) (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq, giving his life to save his fellow SEALs. (Note: Mike was not a Navy SEAL, he was EOD. )

He gave his life to save a group of Navy SEALs.) During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearseto the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEAL's were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin. The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side,it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero. This should be front-page news instead of the crap we see every day. Since the media won't make this news, you can make it news by forwarding it. By doing so, you honor of this man's service, gift of his self and all those who have served without recognition or thanks for giving of themselves, sometimes with their lives. Blessings to all the men and women to serve in this way.