“The facility was basically gutted, and we had everything redone from top to bottom,” explains HITT Cen-

ter Manager Kellie Clements. “We have new top-of-the-line flooring, and the new walls and ceiling are double-enforced so we could hang pull-up bars and ropes and secure cages. We added tile to the bathroom, and had the floors redone in there, including new showers and sinks.”

A major aspect of the project was the addition of outdoor training space featuring artificial turf.

“The new outdoor component is great,” notes Mary Troja, Camp Lejeune Fitness Branch head, Semper Fit Division, Marine Corps Community Services. “We now have outdoor classes where we can bring large groups (from 50 to 80 per class) outdoors to train together. And other people can utilize the facility and train on their own if they want to as well, so we can reach many more people with the HITT program than we did before the renovation.”

“They love training outside on the turf,” adds Clements. “It is great to see them outside with the parachutes and sleds, using the equipment as a group outdoors.”

New HITT CeNTer DesIgNThe HITT Center renovation included an all-new de-

sign and layout of the equipment and spaces. “We institut-ed a completely different layout and décor — all red and black inside with red flooring. And the walls are gray and have double enforced black molding that goes up past the walls, with black padding that goes up past the walls, for hand-stand push-ups and other things.”

The existing stage was closed in, with black matting for surfacing, as well as wall-ball mounts

and a stainless-steel wall that is reinforced on each side to

accommodate the heavy bags.

When facing the stage, all of the Olympic weight racks and weight-lifting equipment is on

A s the first base to beta-test the High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT)

program designed by Semper Fit professionals at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., has been instrumental in the development of this combat-specific training. The base is also a pioneer in the creation of the HITT Center, which is designed to in-clude the equipment, space and facilities — inside and out — necessary to support all of the different aspects of this Marine Corps-wide training program.

Over the past year, Camp Lejeune has taken its HITT Center from serviceable to state-of-the-art, gutting and redo-ing the old basketball gymnasium that was used for the HITT Center back in November 2010 (profiled in GRF May 2011), including new reinforced walls and ceiling, updated fitness equipment, new training space outside, and new Mondo rub-ber flooring inside and artificial turf outside.

CombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombatCombat FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,FIT,READYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADYREADY

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“They love training outside on the turf,” adds Clements. “It is great to see them outside with the parachutes and sleds, using the equipment as a group outdoors.”

New HITT CeThe HITT Center renovation included an all-new de

sign and layout of the equipment and spaces. “We institut

ter Manager Kellie Clements. “We have new top-of-the-line flooring, and

instrumental in the development of this combat-specific training. The base is also a pioneer in the creation of the

Marines at Camp Lejeune Benefit from renovated

HITT Center

and a stainless-steel wall that is reinforced on each side to

HITT Center Manager Kellie Clements (center of circle) leads Marines through HITT training at the newly reno-

vated HITT Center.

Marine Corps Fitness

JUNE 2013 • GOVERNMENT RECREATION & FITNESS

your right-hand side with the cardio equipment on the left. The center of the facility has open space for classes and training, including four ropes that hang down from the new reinforced ceiling.

Some of the equipment was upgraded as well, including the addition of safety jump boxes, heavy bags, kettlebells, sleds and grinders from Power Systems; battling ropes and Viper rubber logs from Gopher; Dynamax balls; Hammer Strength racks; large truck tires; dumbbells; steel bells; and chains.

“We have safety jump boxes covered with a padded protec-tive surface, so you can’t bust your shin or face — they are real-ly nice!” notes Clements. “They have velcro and can be stacked, so that you can change the sizes. Unlike the old days, you can now buy a set of four jump boxes and have everything you need. You can stack them, they take up less space and they are safer.

“We also have a whole new set of kettlebells, which are the real steel Russian-style kettlebells,” she continues. “We are also equipped with steel bells, which are double-enforced bags filled with pellets, not sand, which hold up really well. And the new battling ropes have a protective coating, so they do not shred over time.”

The HITT Center also has several Cybex ARC cross-train-ers, which were purchased through HQMC to be put in all HITT Centers. In addition, the facility has numerous Jacobs Ladders, which “are awesome, a great piece of equipment,” notes Clements.

The facility features some homemade equipment as well, in-cluding different-sized logs with handles that were installed by instructors, and grenade launchers, which are filled with sand.

Additional equipment available indoors includes Nautilus Stepmills and Woodway Treadmills, which allow the user to control the motor and the pace.

A TRX frame and two fitness cages from PurMotion are available outside. “With the cages, we can accommodate nu-merous exercisers doing different exercises all at once — it is a great piece of equipment,” says Clements. “It is a mobile piece that can be used indoors and out, but we put ours out-side, and it has withstood the test of time.”

“Everything that is functional, we have had in there,” notes Troja. “We have tailored the equipment to meet the needs and demands of our Marines, and they let us know what they like and don’t like.”

ruNNINg THe PrograMThe HITT Center can accommodate small- and large-

group training, and on any given day can train upwards of 1,000 Marines.

“Group training is what the HITT center is all about,” notes Clements. “And when you combine that with the mobile unit, which is a virtual HITT Center on wheels, we can even bring the training to differ-ent units that may not have the time or be able to coordinate schedules to come to the HITT Center. The truck is loaded up with the equipment that is needed, and we can do anything with the truck that we can do in the facility.”

Mornings start at 0500 with groups coming in to do their workout of the day (WOD), which is written

on the board each morning by instructors. “We have a specific workout for that day, and then we

have scheduled training sessions in HITT all day long, which includes workouts tailored to each group and individual going through the program,” Clements explains. “We have several instructors on staff who run individuals and groups through HITT training and classes.”

Clements points out that working them as groups helps to build camaraderie, unit cohesion and trust.

“The HITT Center is an environment that Marines want to be in and work in, and they think that this is a great facility,” she notes. “We see their families are coming in with them, and I have wives calling me asking if I can set up programs for them and their kids. HQMC is working on a program for fam-ilies, and it is something that we are thinking of doing. I have seen a great deal of change since I have been aboard Camp Lejeune, not just in Marines but the wives, who are coming in together to participate and use the facility; it is great to see that they are getting involved as well. The HITT center is very popular.”

With so many people using the facility, injury prevention is a key element of the HITT program. “Teaching proper form and technique is a big part of what we do here as instructors,” notes Clements. “We really preach quality over quantity. We teach that here more than anything else, and that safety piece is what we draw upon when telling Marines that this is different than Cross-fit. If you are going to come to this facility and do a workout,

“Group training is what the HITT center is all about,”

on the board each morning by instructors. “We have a specific workout for that day, and then we

The new outdoor training space has fitness cages, an A frame for suspension training, and

space for the mobile HITT Center on wheels.

The HITT Center now features an enclosed stage with rowers.

Marine Corps Fitness

GOVERNMENT RECREATION & FITNESS • JUNE 2013

improved on their fitness tests, but in their run times, swim times, their shooting — areas that they did not even expect to improve in because of the training,” says Clements. “I get a lot of, ‘I can’t believe how much I have improved in this area or that area.’ And when I look at the studies and numbers and statistics that I keep, there has been significant improvements in the areas of weight loss and injury prevention, as we are seeing fewer injuries overall.”

Clements says it is amazing to see some of the transforma-tions that take place.

“I had a guy who was injured in combat who came to me using a cane to walk,” she says. “He went through the HITT program, and is now at the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC); he is an amazing athlete. I think the HITT center and program had a lot to do with his progress and success, and I think he would say that as well. We have a great team here, and we really care about our Marines and their family members.”

Clements and Troja both agree on the importance of the HITT Center in a Marine’s overall physical readiness.

“It is a wonderful facility and the Marines really utilize it,” notes Clements. “It is something that the Marines need and want — now more than ever before. I think it helps tremen-dously, and it is amazing to watch the transformations that take

place in the HITT center. I am glad for the support that we have gotten, and hope that it continues.”

“The renovation has really enabled us to reach these high numbers of Marines and sailors, and the additional space and equipment is helping them to achieve their fitness goals and be more combat-ready,” adds Troja.

Clements points out, “Everything that we do in the HITT center is preparing them for combat. Our mis-sion statement is ‘Combat Fit, Combat Ready,’ so we

mimic the same movements they will be asked to do during combat, and prepare their bodies to be resilient through train-ing.”

—GRF

you are going to do it right and as safely as possible.” She adds that she would rather see someone do

one pull-up correctly and walk away, rather than do 10 with “poor form and their legs kicking,” which puts that person at risk of injury.

“At first, with me being a female, I did get some re-sistance from guys who were just like, ‘Let me do my thing.’” she explains. “But I do think they respect me now, and they will come to me now and say, ‘Will you check out my form as I do this exercise?’ The HITT center is all about proper form, and we drive that home a lot here. They respect that.”

Clements and other HITT Center staff members tailor the HITT program to meet the different needs of each unit and individual, and work with Marines who are in the Body Composition Program (BCP), which is designed to help Marines lose weight and improve their physical fitness test (PFT) and combat fitness test (CFT) scores.

“We try to help them become faster, stronger and better Marines – better athletes — while taking the focus off of los-ing the weight, because when they get caught up in the weight loss, their morale goes straight down, and we don’t want to brow-beat them with the weight loss,” she says. “But when they work with us in the HITT program here at the newly reno-vated facility, they see tremendous results. I have seen guys on the BCP program benefit from the HITT program, knocking 4 to 5 minutes off of their 1-mile-run time to get down to just over seven minutes, which is amazing.”

CoMBaT FIT, CoMBaT reaDYClements, who went through the HITT beta testing pro-

gram with several groups for over a year before these HITT centers began popping up on bases Marine Corps-wide, says she has received lots of positive comments and feedback from Marines and patrons alike.

“They are not just saying how much their performance has

thing.’” she explains. “But I do think they respect me now, and they will come to me now and say, ‘Will you check out

improved on their fitness tests,

Cardio and cross-training equipment is located on the left side of the HITT Center.

their family members.”Clements and Troja both agree on the importance of the

HITT Center in a Marine’s overall physical readiness. “It is a wonderful facility and the Marines really utilize it,”

notes Clements. “It is something that the Marines need and want — now more than ever before. I think it helps tremendously, and it is amazing to watch the transformations that take

mimic the same movements they will be asked to

Strength and weight-lifting equipment is on

the right side of the HITT Center.

Marine Corps Fitness

JUNE 2013 • GOVERNMENT RECREATION & FITNESS