Bethany Crudele

Marine Corps Marathon Notebook: Sept. 11, 2001

By Bethany Crudele on September 13, 2012 Fitness, Marines, Pentagon, Sports, Training, Washington, Wounded warriors

As we get closer to the marathon, the perks begin to appear: training runs in cooler weather; running sneakers that are comfortably broken in; and an escalating confidence in athletic ability. For me, the idea of running 26.2 miles starts to become palpable in mid-September (a realization that I have to keep up with a Marine is also incentive to stick to my training schedule). For Jeremy Boutwell, my marathon teammate, his long training runs are becoming more comfortable as he continues to train in the Texas heat. Another perk of getting closer to the race is the increased buzz…

Behind the Cover: GI Bill rip-off

By Bethany Crudele on September 10, 2012 Behind the Cover, Boot camp, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Marines, Recruit, Recruiting

If you’ve been to boot camp recently there’s a good chance you’ve handed Uncle Sam a hefty chunk of change — $1,200 to be exact, and that’s for a set of education benefits you could have gotten for free. To date, more than 100,000 people have enrolled in the Montgomery GI Bill across the armed services, requiring a $100 monthly buy-in for a recruits’ first year of service. This week’s Marine Corps Times examines an issue that first came to our attention in July when a Marine contacted the newspaper with questions about how each boot camp informs recruits about…

Marine Corps Marathon Notebook: The quest for running shoes

By Bethany Crudele on September 5, 2012 Fitness, Gear, Marines, Sports, Training, Wounded warriors

Walk into any running store and you’re bound to get lost in a sea of neon-colored, fancy-treaded, gel-patterned athletic sneakers. Got flat feet? There’s a shoe for that. Do you overpronate — i.e., does your foot tend to roll toward the inside with each step? There’s a shoe for that, too. Want to channel your inner ultra-athlete? Go barefoot with a glove-like minimalist fit. If you had a chance to pick up this week’s edition of Marine Corps Times, you read about Staff Sgt. Jeremy Boutwell and how we’re running the Marine Corps Marathon together on Oct. 28. Boutwell medically…

“Ugly Angels” conduct final Sea Stallion mission

By Bethany Crudele on August 22, 2012 Afghanistan, Aviation, Equipment, Miramar

The Vietnam-era CH-53D heavy lift helicopter made its final mission on Thursday with one last flight over Helmand province. Marines from Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar conducted the final flight. The squadron, known as the “Ugly Angels,” has used the D model since 1969. The E model, a faster and more powerful make, first entered service in the 1980’s and will replace the Vietnam-era aircraft. Lt. Col. Christopher Oliver, commanding officer of HMH-362 described the D model as “awesome” and said the final mission was bittersweet. “It was about as happy of a flight as…

1965 Marine Huey Gunship for sale on Craigslist

By Bethany Crudele on August 3, 2012 Aviation, Equipment, Gear, Marines, Vehicles

[brightcove video=”1769121844001″ /] Last week, I traveled to Lothian, Md., with Senior Video Journalist Colin Kelly to visit the home of Cevon McLean, the owner of a rare 1965 Vietnam-era Bell Huey. McLean is selling his war-time collectible on Craigslist for $175,000. Fully stocked with gun mounts, ammo cans, and 2.75 rocket pods, the purchasing price also includes a trailer to tow the UH-1E away. McLean said he’s used Craigslist in the past to sell other pieces of equipment, but admits he doesn’t do it very often. “This is definitely the most unique item I’ve put on there,” McLean said. To…

Marines discuss ‘MuscleFest’

By Bethany Crudele on August 3, 2012 Fitness, Marines, Sports, Training, Washington, women

Yesterday, I posted about ‘MuscleFest’, the sixth event of the 2012 Commanders Cup at Marine Barracks Washington 8th & I. The event was part of a series designed to introduce Marines to a variety of physical fitness activities and enhance camaraderie through friendly competition. This morning I spoke with two Marines who participated in the event on July 30. Staff Sgt. Noel Min Just 10 minutes before our conversation, Min was informed that he won the Masters Division for Marines 33 years and older. The Huntsville, Ala. native participated in MuscleFest in 2011 and said the preparation of knowing what…

Marine Barracks Washington completes ‘MuscleFest’

By Bethany Crudele on August 2, 2012 Competitions, Fitness, Marines, Sports, Washington

On Monday, Marines stationed at Marine Barracks Washington 8th & I, competed in MuscleFest, the sixth event of the 2012 Commanders Cup. Events are designed to promote diverse forms of physical fitness and athletic competition. The series includes events ranging from indoor rock climbing to an urban challenge to the ‘Raging Rhino’, an alternating combination of running and swimming. MuscleFest competitors focused on heavy lifting and functional fitness. Marines had to bench-press half their body weight in two minutes, push a 2.25 ton pickup truck 40 yards for time, flip a 100-pound tire 40 yards, pull a 90-pound sled 40…

Female Marine Competes in 2012 CrossFit Competition

By Bethany Crudele on July 26, 2012 Competitions, Fitness, Food, Japan, Marines, Sports, women

For some, CrossFit is just a hobby. For others, like Marine Staff Sgt. Christen Wagner, it’s a way of life. Wagner, a training chief attached to III MHG in Okinawa, Japan, recently traveled to California to compete in the 2012 Reebok CrossFit games. The world famous competition is open to individuals from around the globe who qualify and challenges athletes to take home the title of “Fittest on Earth” by completing high-intensity combinations of weight and endurance training. The 25-year old Marine began CrossFit in 2010 and was hoping to make her debut at the 2011 CrossFit Asia Open. Unable…

Camp Pendleton hosts 2012 CrossFit Games

By Bethany Crudele on July 16, 2012 Battle Rattle, Camp Pendleton, Fitness

Think you’re fit enough to beat your buddy in a round of dead lifts, rope climbs and endurance runs in the heat of summer? 91 of the world’s most elite athletes did just that over the weekend at the 2012 Reebok CrossFit Games. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, hosted the first portion of the fitness test which began last Wednesday. The second phase of the challenge wrapped up on Saturday and Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. The world famous games open to athletes from all over the globe, challenged individuals to push their fitness levels…

Marine veterans strike back against UFC

By Bethany Crudele on July 13, 2012 Fitness, Marines, Mixed marital arts

This week a group of union activists and veterans from “Unite Here” are calling on the Marine Corps to cut ties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts contest. On Thursday, the group delivered petitions to recruiting stations across the country, making a push for the Corps to disassociate and end sponsorship of the UFC. In a letter to Commandant Gen. Jim Amos, the group wrote, “We believe that, by aligning with the UFC, an organization that has tolerated homophobia, misogyny, and hate speech, the Marine Corps is violating its stated commitment of ‘maintaining dignity and respect…

Author Bethany Crudele