Army to Utilize North as Training Site

Next week the Army National Guard will be training approximately 60 soldiers for their physical fitness exam on the track at Sachem High School North.

It marks the first time in school history that a members of the U.S. military utilize district property.

“Whenever we can help those who protect our country, we will do our best to accommodate them,” said Sachem Athletic Director Pete Blieberg. “This is just one example of that philosophy.”

Normally the 142nd Aviation Regiment of the Army National Guard trains near MacArthur Airport, but the roads they often utilize are too dangerous to run comfortably on, according to Sergeant First Class Hernandez.

They originally targeted Tamarac Elementary School since it’s close to the Holtsville Ecology Center where they will hold other physical activities, and the district recommended the high school as a better alternative.

On Thursday, June 9 they’ll host a two-mile run and the basic push up and sit up drills.

Hernandez said the group, which consists of a handful of Sachem alums and residents, is in pre-mobilization stages as they gear up for a deployment to Iraq at some point in early 2012.

Sachem Patch will be cover the physical fitness training next week as well.