Last modified Thu., March 29, 2007 - 09:19 AM
Originally created Thursday, March 29, 2007

Hospital's CMC Challenge brings command together

By Loren Barnes, NH Jacksonville Public Affairs

Naval Hospital Jacksonville Command Master Chief CMDCM(AW) Dennis Green is hoisted onto the shoulders of jubilant hospital staff participants at the close of the CMC Challenge March 16.

The Naval Hospital Jacksonville Command Master Chief (CMC) Challenge took place March 12-16 with a series of 10 competitive events. This popular event pits hospital directorate teams against each other in friendly competition. It is designed to build staff esprit d' corps and has proven a perennial hit.

"The team spirit that the CMC Challenge fosters builds on and strengthens the team spirit that each member of this command exemplify day in and day out in meeting our challenging and critical mission," said Command Master Chief CMDCM(AW) Dennis Green.

The Director for Administration (DFA) team took home the CMC Cup at the close of the Challenge. "This is a great way to bring the entire hospital staff together while having some well-deserved fun. As far as his team's win," said Director for Administration (DFA) Cmdr. Darin Rogers. "Our group rose to the top and put out their normal superb performance."

DFA finished with a score of 525 points. The second place team, the Director, Branch Health Clinics (DBHC), finished with 415 points Broken down by the Challenges' 10 events, the winners were:

Chess Tournament - The DFA team. Playing in three-member teams, DFA beat 18 other competitors from the hospital's other directorates. Flag Competition - The Director, Medical Services (DMS) team won the competition with a design by HM2 Kamesha Albert-Saunders. 5K Run - HM2 Encarnation Nunez who won for the Director, Branch Health Clinics (DBHC) team with a finish time of 18:43.

Izzy Dizzy Relay - The DFA team took won this crazy competition in which teams of four contestants first spin around with their forehead pressed to the top of a bat and then dizzily try to complete a relay run. Volleyball Tournament - The DBHC took home the honors in this event.

Director for Administration Cmdr. Darin Rogers (left) and CSCS Michel Stokes accept the CMC Challenge Cup from the CMC ChallengeÕs Director CS1 Kenny Johnson (right). Looking on is Naval Hospital Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Raquel Bono and CMDCM(AW) Dennis Green, hospital command master chief. Photo by HN Leeann Lowman

Balloon Toss - The Director, Surgical Services (DSS) Cmdr. Craig Shepps and HMCM Louis Ferrarro, representing the DSS, team soaked the field of competitors demonstrating the superb finger skills that make a Navy surgeon.

Push-ups/Sit-ups/Pull-up relay - This challenging series of exercises was won by a team of three representing the Director, Clinical Support Services (DCSS).

Dodgeball Tournament - Slamming their opponents, the (DFA) team won this tournament as well.

Tug-O-War - Directorates fielded teams of six (three male/three female) in this test of pure brawn. Pound for pound the DBHC came out on top in this event.

HM3 Eliseo Rodriguez goes airborne to tap one over the net past AW3 Nicholas Carlton.

Basketball Tournament - Finally, the war for the hoops was won by the DFA Team who played the DCSS team. That game ended with a score of 12-8.

What was that blur that just went by? Naval Hospital Jacksonville 5K run participants show what lots of Friday mornings running with the commanding officer can do for you. Photo by HN LeeAnn Lowman