News

Release #120830-2 posted on Aug 30, 2012

by Christine Pesout, U.S. Transportation Command

2

1

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – For one of the events during the last month of U.S. Transportation Command’s “empowerment” quarter, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Marty Klukas, USTRANSCOM senior enlisted leader, is challenging teams to complete a “Checkpoint Challenge.”

On Thursday, Sept. 6, all staff are invited to participate in a physical and mental training event where they will decipher clues and find checkpoints scattered across the base. To "win" the challenge, a team must earn the most points by reaching checkpoints and/or by answering command-related trivia questions correctly. People of all fitness levels are welcome to participate; individuals will be split into 10 teams based on preference of walk/jog/run.

“This event will provide an excellent opportunity to share individual strengths and collectively gap weaknesses, while having fun and building lasting team member relationships,” said Kevin T. Duitsman, challenge planning and event volunteer, USTRANSCOM manpower and personnel, manpower division.

The challenge is one of the remaining senior leader-led activities during the quarter that includes a critical thinking course Sept. 25-26. Activities throughout the year focus on four different virtues aimed at bolstering a culture of customer service and collaboration within the organization. Army Maj. Gen. Greg Couch, USTRANSCOM chief of staff, will lead activities around “innovation” during the last quarter of the calendar year.

.

The Checkpoint Challenge will start at the softball field parking lot at 7:30 a.m. and end around 9:00 a.m. The chief of staff has approved this event as an alternate duty location from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Contractors are welcome to attend, but must do so on their own time and cannot bill the government for time spent at the event. In addition to Couch and Klukas, Air Force Gen. William W. Fraser, III, commander, USTRANSCOM, will attend.

“Check point Challenge is going to be a fun-filled event that anyone can enjoy no matter what age or physical performance level you are,” said Hospital Corpsman Third Class, Fleet Marine Force Nicholas A. Sleeman, challenge planning volunteer, USTRANSCOM Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center, controller. “It’s sure to challenge you mentally and physically, and really get you charged up.”

Have more questions? Visit the Empowerment SharePoint site for more information.

-USTRANSCOM-