Marines are known for their high level of physical fitness and helping each other when working to reach fitness goals.

What You Need To Know

5,000 Marines physically trained together for the first time in more than a year

Force fitness instructors help other Marines reach peak fitness levels

Group runs are the basis of unit PT

For the last year, Marines have not been able to PT, or physically train, in large groups like they always have, but the 2nd Marine Logistics Group held an entire unit run as a way to get back to normal.

Roughly 5,000 out of the 8,000 Marines in the group formed up for an entire group run. One of those Marines is Force Fitness Instructor Sergeant Jordan Howard, whose passion is fitness and helping other marines reach peak fitness levels.

“I have the ability to help others, my Marine brothers and sisters,” Howard said.

Howard has been in the Marine Corps since 2014, and became a force fitness instructor a little more than a year ago.

The title gives him the responsibility of helping other Marines optimize their fitness, increase their durability and maximize their overall readiness for battle.

“I want to be able to give my ability to them to help them reach their next level in their career,” Howard said.

Since COVID-19 forced many changes, large group PT was not allowed. Heading into the July 4 weekend, however, and combined with less social distancing restrictions, leaders with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group felt now was a good time to get back to bringing motivated group runs to the unit.

Howard says these runs are the basis of large unit PT.

“Endurance, whether that be physical or mental, is an important attribute to keep training and keep your Marines strong,” Howard said.

Going into the future, he looks forward to having other types of physical training added to the daily PT regimen.

“What I'm really excited for is competition, so whether it's my unit playing another unit in football, grappling competitions, that's what I'm really excited to see,” Howard said.

Physically training in a large group helps marines in the unit build camaraderie, as well as prepare them for their annual physical fitness test.