Features

Army bodybuilder brings muscle to battlefield

by Walter Ham
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosives Command
March 15, 2024
Capt. David B. Winne (carrying American flag), an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer and instructor at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, routinely demonstrates his commitment to physical fitness by participating in bodybuilding and Crossfit competitions. After spending half of the last year competing in local Crossfit competitions before qualifying for the Crossfit quarterfinals, Winne spent the rest of the year focused on bodybuilding and qualified for national competitions while almost earning a bodybuilding Pro card. Courtesy photo.

Army Capt. David B. Winne, a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is an explosive ordnance disposal officer and instructor at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The graduate from Liberty University in Virginia routinely demonstrates his commitment to physical fitness by participating in bodybuilding and CrossFit competitions.

Functional fitness journey

While many people set new fitness goals at the beginning of a new year, Winne said the key to success is maintaining a sustainable training schedule and working out together with partners.

“Complacency kills but consistency compounds,” said Winne. “Establish a training regime that is sustainable for your schedule. Too often soldiers will be overly ambitious with their training plan and crush it for a few weeks before tiring out simply because it isn’t sustainable.”

Winne started his fitness journey with bodybuilding and later shifted gears to functional fitness.

“I’ve been seriously lifting for about 15 years and always had a passion for training and bodybuilding,” said Winne. “For a while, my only goal was to lift as heavy as I can and be as big as I could but when I joined the Army, I realized I had to change my approach to training or else I could quickly become a liability to my team.”

Capt. David B. Winne, an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer and instructor at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, routinely demonstrates his commitment to physical fitness by participating in bodybuilding and Crossfit competitions. After spending half of the last year competing in local Crossfit competitions before qualifying for the Crossfit quarterfinals, Winne spent the rest of the year focused on bodybuilding and qualified for national competitions while almost earning a bodybuilding Pro card. Courtesy photo.

Applying muscle to battlefield success

Fitness also contributes to success during combat missions downrange when explosive ordnance disposal technicians confront and defeat explosive devices that are designed to impair troops and impede missions.

Winne commanded the 18th Ordnance Company when it served as the sole EOD company in Iraq in 2021. During the deployment, the 18th completed almost 600 missions and defeated a wide variety of devices, including rockets, improvised explosive devices and one-way attack explosive drones that threatened U.S. and coalition forces.

Winne says physical fitness is a critical component of the profession of arms.

“Fitness is a universal language,” said Winne. “It’s a language civilians, other units, military occupations and even other countries understand. When you have a passion for that, it opens doors that otherwise may have been closed. I can’t tell you how many relationships I have built through fitness with people, units and allies that I may never have had.”

Winne added that fitness helps to forge stronger relationships with supported combat units and allied forces.

He built relationships with Danish soldiers in the gym during his deployment to Iraq that led to future training opportunities that improved unit readiness. “As leaders, we may be the only point of contact those supported units know about EOD,” Winne said.

Fitness as a way of life

Winne said his focus on fitness improves every aspect of his life and helps him to deal with the inevitable stress that comes from serving in a dangerous and demanding profession.

“I have found training to be a healthy outlet for stress and for my mental health,” said Winne. “I’m able to think clearer, deal with work stress easier and even be a better husband and father. When you’re putting yourself through grueling training sessions, suddenly the stress of work or life becomes more manageable.”

Capt. David B. Winne (center), an Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer and instructor at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, routinely demonstrates his commitment to physical fitness by participating in bodybuilding and Crossfit competitions. After spending half of the last year competing in local Crossfit competitions before qualifying for the Crossfit quarterfinals, Winne spent the rest of the year focused on bodybuilding and qualified for national competitions while almost earning a bodybuilding Pro card. Courtesy photo.
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