'World-Class' Military Congratulates World-Class Athletes

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2004 – Striving to do one's best is at the core of the military, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers told members of the World Military Games gold-medal modern pentathlon team here Feb. 17.

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (center), speaks with Army Sgt. Scott Christie during a presentation ceremony at the Pentagon Feb. 17. The crystal vase on the table, presented to Myers at the ceremony for display at the Pentagon, represents the U.S. military modern pentathlon team's first-place finish at the 3rd Military Games in Catania, Italy. With the chairman, left to right, are the former team captain, retired Air Force Col. Dennis Behrens, and team members Army 1st Lt. Chad Senior, Christie and Air Force 1st Lt. Robert Bremer. Photo by Mamie Burke (Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available.

"There's a correlation between what you do on your field, and how (the military) works in other fields," the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman told the three members of the team. "We all want to be world-class. We think we are world-class in what we do."

The team took the gold at the 3rd Military World Games in Catania, Italy, in December.

The members of the team are Army 1st Lt. Chad Senior, Air Force 1st Lt. Robert Bremer and Army Sgt. Scott Christie. All three are members of the military's World-Class Athlete Program. They are based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Senior and Christie with the Army's World-Class Athlete Program and Bremer at Schriever Air Force Base.

The modern pentathlon features running, swimming, shooting, fencing and an equestrian event. The five events occur one after the other on the same day. The team is readying for the Athens Olympic Games. Qualifying events begin next month.

Senior placed sixth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. He was leading going into the last event – the equestrian portion – when his horse balked at a jump. Senior and Bremer said they prefer the running and swimming portions of the pentathlon, and Christie said he prefers the shooting and riding. In their regular military jobs, Senior is an infantry officer – and he will go to the Officer Course at Fort Benning, Ga., after the Olympics. Bremer is a contract specialist and Christie is a signalman.

The team presented the crystal trophy to Myers for display in the Pentagon. In six months, it will go back to the Military Games organization. "Of course, if we win it again next year, it's ours for keeps," Senior said.

Biography:
Gen. Richard B. Myers

Related Web Site:
3rd Military World Games

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