While underway during Indo-Pacific Endeavour, the Australian Amphibious Force (AAF) on board HMAS Adelaide challenged themselves with a fitness competition.
The AAF, which comprises 47 units and more than 1300 personnel, fit the competition around Exercise Keris Woomera - the largest combined joint activity between the ADF and Indonesian National Armed Forces.
The workout-of-the-day competition has become a tradition on recent AAF deployments, attracting the interest of not only embarked forces, but fitness fanatics from ship's company.
'The value in a team-based event provides a level of complexity to what would be a simple workout on any other given day.'
Adelaide Physical Training Instructor Leading Seaman Jacob Lymbery, who coordinated the competition during Operation Resolute, said the high work load during that deployment highlighted the need to counteract the stress and fatigue.
"A tailored and higher stakes physical challenge proved to be more effective in providing a greater separation from the work day than the standard PT routine," Leading Seaman Lymbery said.
"The value in a team-based event provides a level of complexity to what would be a simple workout on any other given day.
"Elements of strategy, communication, teamwork and encouragement are all required to achieve the best result possible.
"Discussions are had throughout the ship about the best way to tackle the workout, with individual strengths and weaknesses at play."
'The competition has brought the embarked forces and ship's company together in a unique way, providing a physical outlet as well as mental and social stimulation.'
The competition, which spanned three weeks, aimed to promote physical fitness, mental wellbeing and teamwork among the crew, while providing a healthy outlet for stress and fatigue that comes with life at sea.
It consists of three workouts, with teams made up of two male and two female participants.
Teams have their workout attempts officiated and judged by the physical training instructors, with their score added to the evolving leader board.
Warrant Officer Richard Kamprad, an avid cross fitter, said the competition replicated the social and physical benefits provided by his normal group workouts back home.
"The competition has brought the embarked forces and ship's company together in a unique way, providing a physical outlet as well as mental and social stimulation," Warrant Officer Kamprad said.
"By facilitating multiple judging windows throughout each week, teams can find a time in their work schedule, ensuring maximum participation."
