Gear for Grunts
CrossFit Southie, ‘tis the season to be merry: a time for joy, giving thanks, Christmas trees, Oldies 103.3 Christmas music, overly aggressive mall shoppers, movie marathons of Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, and Home Alone (1 and 2) on repeat, egg nog, apple pie, college football Bowl Week, and most importantly – charities.
While giving to any charity represents a great act of kindness around this time of year, we often do not know exactly who receives our items.
Prior to moving back to Boston last February, I served as a Marine officer. A few of my close friends currently serve as infantry platoon commanders over in Afghanistan and have reached out for assistance. This year we will be running an in-house charity where all items donated will go directly to their Marines serving on the front lines.
Enter Gear for Grunts.
Despite our Nation’s great wealth and resources, many of the most basic items needed for a Marine infantry unit to remain effective and safe in combat are lacking. Most of the items below outlined by my friend Mark fall into this category. The others represent basic items inherent for maintaining high morale and a healthy mental state. The units receiving these gifts will be:
– Echo Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
– 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines
– Bravo Company,1st Battalion, 25th Marines (based out of MA and NH)
Please feel free to drop some of these items in the boxes in both Southie Orange and Green.
Happy Holidays and Semper Fidelis
BLACK socks (wool/acrylic or cotton)
we can only wear black, od green, or grey socks. Please no white socks. They are banned. We are on foot long hours, socks are the single most important item.
Wet Wipes
Cleaning body
We have limited to no access to showers or running water. Baby wipes are important.
Cottonelle Fresh Wipes are the best.
AAA/AA Batteries
These power our Garmin wrist gps that are critical to patrolling. headlamps for night use, optics for weapons also need batteries.
Toiletries
Soap
Body cleansing
Preferably liquid body soap- old spice, axe, etc. Anything that can be used for bathing.
Coffee
Any type of coffee grounds. Starbucks/dunkin donuts, etc. instant packets- things of that nature. We have access to hot water. This is a huge help when we are going for days on end with little to no sleep.
Magazines/Newspapers (current and past)
US Weekly, People, Economist, anything that has current events. You’d be surprised how much the Marines read US weekly- and how much it can take their minds off the stress of combat
Beef jerky
Light and easy to carry. High in protein. Keeps for long time.
Ramen Noodles
Mac and Cheese
LaraBars/Protein/shakers etc…
Hand Warmers
WOD– CrossFit Total
1RM Back Squat
1RM Press
1RM Deadlift
For rules and regulation on the Total click here. You will have 20 minutes to find a 1rm for the Squat, 15 minutes for the Press and 20 minutes for the Deadlift. You will only have 5 minutes to warm up since the Total takes so long so if you need extra warm up time please get her early. Also, please take the time before to think about the your capabilities and the numbers you will be shooting for.
475 squat. 225 press. 575 Deadlift.=1275 CFT
PR city in the 5:30pm class, Nice work guys!
CFT
Back Squat = 375 (PR)
Press = 160 (PR)
Deadlift = 465 (PR)
CFT = 1,000 even
WOD: 7 Minute AMRAP
2 deadlifts (335)
2 muscle ups
9+3
Bummed I missed this Friday.. Great idea to gather these items to send over. My brother served in Afghanistan and Iraq and these are exactly what he always asked me to send him. I’ll definitely bring some things in. How will we pay to ship the items over?
Squat – 385
Press – 160
Deadlift – 415
Total – 960
Squat- 295
Press – 135
Deadlift – 425
Total: 855
hell yeah, daniel! way to kill it on day 5 at CFS. that’s my man!
cft = 830
squat – 335
press – 145
deadlift – 35
strong work tonight in the 6 pm class! thank you Chuck and Maze for the cheer section to reach a DL PR!
back squat = 145
press = 75
dead lift = 225
CFT = 445
Great benchmark workout after 1 month. Thanks to Coach Maze
CFT = 625
Backsquat = 185 after almost killing myself
Press = 145
Deadlift = 295
Gotta say guys after the help from Coach Maze and Chuck tonight and motivation from everyone, I really enjoyed the CFT WOD!!!
CFT=405
Backsquat-135
Press- 75
Deadlift- 195
lovved loooved crossfit total!
CFT= 410
back squat- 145
press-65
deadlift- 210 PR babbbyy!!!
you could feel the magic in the air tonight at CFS! congrats to everyone!
CFT = 665
squat – 245 pr
press – 110 pr
deadlift – 310 pr (by 75lbs!)
Joe, I love making the trip to PR city. Hope to return soon!
Crust you know me so well…my gas mask is sitting on my desk right now
975 total score.. probably better than Melberg, who was noticeably absent from the noon class today. Blatant effort to avoid Mr. X.
Haha thanks, Amy. Andrea, trip to PR City this morning?
Saw this randomly and it made me think of Nick
“San Jose police: Man who caused post office shutdown was jogger in unusual gear”
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19440928
Cleary you CRUSHED it this morning!! Maze and Amy pushed you to your limits and PR’d all three lifts! Just another great example of the incredible support and motivation from our coaches and the CF Southie community!! Thanks guys!
Shamwow you always have the best comments. You always know what to say to make me chuckle to myself.
Love the post, I definitely will help out!
Crossfit total= 635
Backsquat-: 225 (PR)
Press: 110 (PR)
Deadlift: 300 (PR)
Maze, I’ll definitely pick up some stuff and bring it by.
TJ, you’re a beast.
CFT = 805
Back squat: 300
Press: 170
Deadlift: 335
first time doing Crossfit Total!
back squat 225
press 87
DL 265
577
Great post Coach Maze, will definitely be getting some stuff together to drop in the box to send overseas, let me know if you guys need any help later on organizing or shipping it out, would be more than happy to lend a hand.
Thank you, Maze, for not recognizing the third and fourth installments of the Home Alone series. They sucked.
TJ = Earth Shaker
Right on Maze. Real deal right there.
TJ’s Redonkadonk.
1. Maze, love this! what a great cause, I’m totally going to Target tomorrow to buy all sorts of stuff
2. TJ=Manbeast, can you please post the #575 DL? lol