Students participate in unusual test of fitness

Dozens of Iowa high schoolers are taking part in an unusual contest today in the southeast Iowa town of Washington — it’s the State Color Guard Competition for the Iowa Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Captain Doug Jansen, of Ames, is one of the organizers. He says the teens will be put through a variety of tests.They’ll have a physical fitness test including a mile run, sit-ups and push-ups. They’ll also be judged on their color guard skills with a raising and a lowering of the flag. There’s a uniform inspection and a written test and an indoor presentation of the colors. Captain Jansen says the teens learn a lot of important lessons by taking part in this competition.Jansen says about 50 students from about a dozen Iowa communities will be taking part in today’s competition, which begins at 7 A-M at the junior high school in Washington.Winners in today’s competition go on to represent Iowa in a regional challenge early next year.