Army celebrates 244th birthday

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ethan Sherwood
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs

June 14, 2019 marks the 244th birthday of the U.S. Army, a date celebrated internationally by Soldiers.

On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress formed the Continental Army under the command of George Washington to unify the 13 colonies in their fight against British forces.

The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion here celebrated with a physical training challenge at the Mathis Fitness Center. The challenge consisted of eight different stations split amongst four teams. Each station had a different exercise whether it be pushups or running a lap with a soldier on a stretcher. The more repetitions each soldier did during the rotation the more points their team earned.  

The challenges boosted morale and teamwork. The crowd cheered and chanted for everyone on the field even if they weren’t part of the event. Every time a new rotation began a chant rose with it.

At the end of it all, the winners were announced with much applause and cheering. The noncommissioned officers took home first place and gained bragging rights over their troops.