BALAD AIR BASE, IRAQ — Three hundred and thirty-two thousand. How would you like to do that many push-ups? About 100 members deployed at Balad Air Base in Iraq with the 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron have collectively committed to accomplishing that goal within the next four months to help meet a new fitness initiative announced at the end of September. They are calling it the 332nd 332K Push-Up Challenge.

The push-up initiative also will refocus attention on fitness for deployment, says Senior Master Sgt. Bill McCune, 332nd ECS superintendent.

Why not “try something imaginative?” Sergeant McCune says. “A few minutes a day can put you in better shape.”

For 100 people to knock out 332,000 push-ups equates to roughly 3,320 each, or about 875 a month. Spread over a four-month deployment, that is about 30 a day.

“You don't want to deploy to the desert if you're not in good shape,” says Senior Master Sgt. Bert Francois, the 332nd ECS first sergeant. Another reason for the challenge is morale, says Craig Wilcox, the 332nd ECS commander, who thought the challenge would be fun and bring the unit together.

“We got the numbers, did the math,” Wilcox says. “It's attainable.”

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