AFGSC Airmen surpass rowing goal Published May 17, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Chad Warren 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- April 5 marked the beginning of a command-wide rowing challenge that lasted until May 5, challenging Airmen from the five Air Force Global Strike Command bases to collectively row 3,674 miles - the distance from Washington D.C. to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. What started as a simple challenge to AFGSC Airmen became an intense competition, with competitors battling meter for meter to claim the title. The challenge, a part of the American 300 Never Quit Series, showcased how motivated the command's Airmen truly are. "We set a goal that was smashed by the Airmen of Global Strike Command," said Robi Powers, American 300 founder. "We never imagined the competitors would reach the numbers they did." At the end of the competition, the total distance rowed was 12,723 miles - nearly halfway around the world. American 300, a non-profit organization which allows athletes and influential people the opportunity to visit with troops and share their stories, came up with the idea to place a rowing machine at each of the five AFGSC bases. Keeping with the theme of the upcoming Olympic Games, the machines are painted a unique color, each representing one of the Olympic rings. The command added prizes to the ones already being offered by American 300 which helped to make the program as successful as it was, said Powers. The top finishers at each base won prizes including commemorative paddles and vacation vouchers through the Armed Forces Vacation Club. The grand prize, awarded to the top overall individual rower in the command, is a trip to the 2012 Olympic Games in London with the American 300 organization. This distinction was earned by Staff Sgt. Jarrod White from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. As a small token of their appreciation to America's allies-in-arms, the organization will donate the five machines to the British Armed Forces during a ceremony at the games. The challenge made for some stiff competition here, with a few Airmen battling until the very end for the title of Barksdale's top rower. "I rowed during lunch, after work, weekends, and in the last week I was trying to average 35,000 meters a day," said Tech. Sgt. Jon Walsh, 2nd Security Forces Squadron and Barksdale's top rower. "The last Friday of the event I did 63,000 meters to build a lead. I recall struggling to do 30 minutes in the beginning, but over time I was doing 60 minutes at a time with ease." Walsh finished an impressive fifth in the command overall with a distance of 506,854 meters, but says he would have liked to finish in the top three. Barksdale Airmen combined rowed a total of 2,589,273 meters, or 1,609 miles.