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Soldiers support students' health
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Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division show a student her results of a FitnessGram at Lyman Hall Elementary School on March 3. - photo by Army photo by Spc. Cameron Pinney

Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division participated in a FitnessGram with students of Lyman Hall Elementary School on March 3.

FitnessGram is a physical fitness test that assesses the students’ health through push-ups, sit-ups, a flexibility drill and a 1-mile run.
The test resembles the Army’s physical fitness test soldiers must do to maintain their readiness and health.

The soldiers encouraged the children and showed them proper form for each exercise. They also tracked student scores.

“The FitnessGram was to test the students’ abilities in physical fitness,” said Spc. Mariah Rivera, an automated logistical specialist from

Company D 6-8 Cavalry. “We tested their flexibility by doing the sit and reach.”
The students smiled, laughed and sweat through each station.

“Soldiers of 6-8 Cav. have built a partnership with Lyman Hall Elementary School from volunteering at the school multiple times,” Lyman Hall health and physical ed teacher Hall Cintretta Lewis said.

“It’s been awesome,” she said. “They were here for the Jump Rope for Heart, the field day last year and the FitnessGram. They have been a huge success, a great asset, always willing to help.”

Students said they enjoyed the challenge.

“It was fun to exercise, get our health right and have fun doing it,” a fourth-grader, who didn’t give his full name, said.

The soldiers said they also had fun, felt good about helping and hoped to be a positive influence for the students.

“It gives me a sense of pride being able to interact with the kids and show the community the Army cares,” Rivera said.

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