Max Muscle of Los Alamitos leads physical training, nutrition classes for JFTB aerial surveillance platoon

On Friday, Feb. 10, Max Muscle of Los Alamitos spent the morning with members of a tactical unmanned aerial systems (TUAS) platoon at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base to demonstrate innovative physical training (PT) methods to the California National Guard soldiers that the soldiers could adapt to their own changing field conditions.

The TUAS platoon was on base training as part of a larger exercise by the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) based out of San Diego. With about 3,400 soldiers, the IBCT is the largest of the California National Guard’s combat teams.

TUAS is part of the 79th’s Special Troops Battalion and provides equipment and personnel to field unmanned aerial surveillance in support of the larger mission of the Brigade. According to its staff sergeant, Carlos Altamirano, “The 79th’s TUAS Platoon is the most highly decorated TUAS Platoon in California, with the best safety record in the nation.”

The team from Max Muscle — Irma, Cassie, Ikko and Akio — also provided free samples of food and nutritional supplements following the workout.

On offer were plain bagels, Pink Lady fresh apples and oatmeal packaged in individual 1.7-ounce pouches.

A selection of dietary supplements included Essential Omega (promotes heart health, joint function and skin health with a refreshing lemon twist flavor!) and Max Liqui Carn (efficiently burns fat for optimal weight loss! provides energy for muscles during exercise!).

patch for California National Guard, 79th IBCT

After changing out of workout clothing, soldiers participated in a nutrition class to update them on current understanding of proper diet in support of the high level of physical fitness needed by a soldier on active duty.

Soldiers of the TUAS Platoon who live locally use the resources of Max Muscle of Los Alamitos to keep themselves in sharp shape. Members of the Max Muscle team were eager to accept an invitation to offer their expertise in nutrition and exercise to not only non-local platoon members but also to anyone in the 79th IBCT looking for ways to improve their physical conditioning and charge up their physical training.

Platoon members unfamiliar with Max Muscle thought the Friday morning workout with no free weights would be a cake walk.

To their surprise, the aerobic and non-aerobic drills led by the Max Muscle team on the asphalt just outside the Platoon’s facility soon had even the most fit soldiers panting, grunting and sweating.

One of the TUAS Platoon’s unmanned aerial surveillance drones

Platoon Staff Sergeant Carlos Altamirano and his men are proud of their ability to meet mission requirements on less than a bare bones budget. They have spruced up their facility at the JFTB on their own initiative, from painting over old yellow interior walls to scrounging shelving and cubicle walls to organize their building’s wide open spaces. Right now, they’re looking for a stand for the monitor they use to display information during presentations such as that morning’s nutrition class.

Max Muscle is located at 5020 Katella Ave. in Los Alamitos, between Ticonderoga Dr. and Siboney St. and across from 24-Hour Fitness and Office Depot.

Featured photo

A member of the TUAS Platoon does crunches during the Friday morning workout led by Irma, Cassie, Ikko, and Ako from Max Muscle of Los Alamitos. With no room in the budget for extras like PT equipment, the Platoon is seeking three dozen exercise mats to allow members to train without scraping elbows, knees and palms against the asphalt, or using pieces of clothing for make-shift protection.

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About the Author

shelley

Shelley Henderson is a reformed computer and networking geek turned freelance writer. Now she only fixes her own networks and computers. That leaves time for writing, and writing and more writing. And editing the Orange County Breeze. Shelley most enjoys visiting and finding out about local businesses to write business profiles that allow our communities to learn more about their local businesses and the people who own and run them. If you own or manage a business in our coverage area and would like to invite Shelley to write a business profile, let us know.