PETERSBURG, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, have knocked out nearly 22,200 pushups as of Sept. 23, 2024, in support of the Virginia National Guard Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention’s and Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce’s “Push for Life Challenge.” The Soldiers completed 10,000 pushup repetitions during their regularly scheduled drill weekend held Sept. 8 and have kept pushing every day since.
The “Push for Life Challenge” builds suicide prevention awareness for Soldiers, Airmen, civilians, and families during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The program’s aim is to complete one million pushups between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2024.
Maj. Andrew Czaplicki, commander of the 276th, kicked off the challenge by posting a video to the battalion’s Facebook page advertising the challenge. “As a battalion, I’m challenging everyone to do 10 pushups a day for 30 days,” Czaplicki said.
The Pioneers are digitally tracking the total pushups from each of its eight subordinate units.
“Suicide is preventable and is everyone’s business, and we need everyone’s involvement,” said Alton Sturdifen, R2SP program manager. “One million pushups are achievable and may even be exceeded for the good of our Soldiers, Airmen, Civilians, and Family members.”
“With the ‘Push for Life Challenge,’ we will honor one another and honor those lost to suicide,” explained Sturdifen. “As we build more awareness, we can demonstrate a willingness to ‘Be There.’ Be there for your buddy, be there for your family, and be there for ourselves.”
Links and contact information for behavioral and mental health and suicide prevention resources were provided as part of the battalion’s suicide awareness campaign.
“The month of September is the start to so many things: schools are starting up, kids sports and activities, jobs start to swing into the final months of the year, and semesters start back up,” Czaplicki said. “All of that extra activity can sometimes create stress, and this is the perfect opportunity to highlight some of the resources that the National Guard and U.S. Army provide for mental health and suicide awareness.”
Resource links:
Virginia National Guard Resilience, Risk Reduction, Suicide Prevention Program
https://va.ng.mil/R3SP/
Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce
https://va.ng.mil/Programs-Resources/Integrated-Primary-Prevention-Workforce/