AFGSC officials kick off Never Quit rowing challenge April 5 Published March 21, 2012 By Carla Pampe Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen will learn how much pull it takes to get to the Olympics when the month-long Never Quit rowing challenge begins here April 5. The American300 rowing challenge, part of a command-wide initiative to strengthen and encourage Airmen, will begin with Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, the AFGSC commander, rowing the first 500 meters at the gymnasium here while leaders at other AFGSC bases kick off the event at their home stations. "This challenge is designed to promote fitness, teamwork and a spirit of competition," said Col. Gregory Parsons, the director of the AFGSC personnel directorate. "We are also encouraging Airmen to work to overcome obstacles in their lives." As part of the American300 Never Quit Warrior Tour stopping at the command's bases, Olympic gold medalist and world champion rower Dan Beery will share his story and demonstrate proper rowing technique to fitness center staff. Sean Colgan, a congressional medal recipient and a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic rowing team, will talk to Airmen about overcoming obstacles and moving forward when faced with disappointment. "Sean Colgan had to overcome the disappointment of not being able to compete in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow due to a U.S. boycott of the games," Parsons said. "He could have used that as an excuse to give up his dream. Instead he organized two competitions with the Soviet Union following the Olympic Games, and Team USA won both." The rowing challenge links the American300 Never Quit series with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London by challenging Airmen to row a cumulative total of 5,900 kilometers between all the bases, which equals the distance between Washington D.C. and London. The AFGSC Airman who rows the farthest will travel to London with the American300 team in July, and the base with the farthest distance rowed will receive $50,000 in quality of life funds. In the next few months, American300 will bring several other tours to AFGSC bases.