Chavis workout honors Airman who 'gave it his all'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brigitte Brantley
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Five years to the day after Airman 1st Class LeeBernard Chavis died from sniper fire in Iraq, more than 100 Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group endured a grueling workout in his memory.

Starting before the sun rose Oct. 14 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., the group's goal was to complete 150 burpees, a one-mile run and 150 squat thrusts, which have collectively become known as the LeeBernard Chavis Memorial Workout.

"Chavis made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life," said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Frantz, 820th Combat Operations Squadron operations superintendent. "He was a physical training animal, so this workout helps us remember both his sacrifice and commitment to PT."

Chavis was assigned to the 824th Security Forces Squadron and was killed by sniper fire in 2006 during a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq.

Joseph Suhr, now an officer with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, was deployed with Chavis at that time, and came back to Moody for the workout.

"It's my third time doing this workout," said Suhr. "This workout is a good tribute to Chavis because it kicks (butt). It destroys everybody who actually does the different workouts. We get tired, but he's underground."

He added that Chavis always saw the positive side of things and was proficient at his job.

The workout was led by Staff Sgt. Brandon Lape, a physical training leader for the group.

"I didn't personally know Chavis, but I was in the 824th at the same time as him," said Lape. "Several of his close friends spoke highly of him, and heard he always gave it his all. That's what this workout is about."

Although the workout was invented and started here in 2008, it has since spread to other bases by way of Airmen who remember Chavis' sacrifice.