Travis Crutcher - Army Strong Stories

Army Racing and Youth and Education Services

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 19:59:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Over the last six months I have been working as a member of the Drill Sergeant Exhibitor Program (DSEP). During that time I had the opportunity to work on 5 events involving the Army Race team, both NASCAR as well as NHRA. Now you may be asking yourself “What is a Drill Sergeant doing working with NHRA and NASCAR?”, well I will tell you. The Army Motorsports program is about way more than just racing. In fact in many instances racing took a back seat to the real...read more

Start your engines

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:57:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
This week I am in Florida for the Daytona 500. My week started on Tuesday at Taylor High School in Pierson Florida. The kids there were great and overall seemed really interested in asking questions about the the show car. I was easy to see there were quite a few race fans among the students and the educators as well. All in all it was a great day and I am looking forward to the rest of the week. If you are at the track this weekend stop by the U.S. Army Strength in Action Zone....read more

ASU ROTC

Travis Crutcher — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:46:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Yesterday was the final day of show car visits here in Arizona, and we spent the day at ASU helping out the ROTC department. We spent the morning engaging students between classes, showing them the show car and handing out T-shirts. We met several individuals who were actually already serving and using the post 9-11 GI bill to get their education. We were also approached by people who simply wanted to say thanks for serving and wish us all a Happy Veterans Day. It was...read more

Gamecocks!!! JSU

Travis Crutcher — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 01:59:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Today I spent some time at JSU (Jacksonville State University) . Home of the Gamecocks. We were there with the show car to help out the ROTC program. Unfortunatley the weather had other plans for us being there. We had to pack the car away shorlty after arriving but that still left one motivated Drill Sergeant.....who may have had too much coffee. In spite of not having the car as back up, myself along with the driver of the show car. Bob decided to make some lemonade out of our...read more

"I wanna go FAST" : Ricky Bobby

Travis Crutcher — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 01:09:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Today marked my second day here in the Talladega area. It's the week before the races and I am traveling around the local area with the US Army NASCAR showcar. On Monday we were at Guntersville Highschool where I met a young man named Pedro (pictured below). His friends all thought it would be funny to get him messed with by the Drill Sergeant because as they said, I made him nervous. I gave Pedro kind of a hard time and unfortunatley for Pedro he had to spend two hours...read more

A day with the Wilson HS BULLDOGS

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:22:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Yesterday gave me the chance to visit Wilson High School, home of the Bulldogs! The school really went out of their way to facilitate the visit. First off along with the help of their ROTC department set up the Army's NHRA show car in the middle of the school gym. Then we had several classes come into the gym to listen to Tony Schumacher give a great speech on the importance of education and excellence. Once that was complete it was time for the Drill Sergeant to step in. I...read more

Drag racing and push ups!

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:20:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Today was the first day at the drag strip for the weekend. The day kicked off with the yes program where Tony Schumacher addressed the kids as well as a Home town Hero, SSG Wilson. They talked about the Warrior Ethos and how it has applied to their lives. After the YES program wrapped up we all headed inside the track to the Strength in Action Zone. I was conducting the fitness challenge all day, where people could compete in either push ups or pull ups to win a prize. People...read more

PA Day one

Travis Crutcher — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 01:12:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
On my first day here in PA I got the chance to interact with about 278 students at the Lebanon Technology and Career Center. Most of the kids were more interested in the U.S. Army Drag Car than a Drill Sergeant, but on a few occasions they walked up to ask me some questions. I got the chance to talk to one student who had actually already completed Basic Training and was now in his senior year of High school before attending AIT. Towards the end of the day I met one student named...read more

Races at Reading

Travis Crutcher — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 21:39:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
This week I will be in PA. with visits to Lebanon, Kutztown, West Lawn, and Mohnton. I will be making the rounds with the show car and over the weekend will be at the Maple Groove Raceway for the NHRA event. I will be at the Strength In Action Zone for the weekend. So if you think you have what it takes to be Army Strong, come by and see me....read more

Manitowoc Future Soldiers

Travis Crutcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:47:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
This afternoon I had the chance to interact with a group of future soldiers in the Manitowoc, WI area. The recruiters in the area told me they wanted me to "work them out". This is one of those things that the future soldiers instantly regretted. It was their first taste of what Drill Sergeants are like, and I did everything I could to make it memorable. After a little light PT we returned inside the recruiting station and I opened it up for questions and...read more

Lincoln HS

Travis Crutcher — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:31:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Today I went to my first event here in Wisconsin. I was invited to Lincoln High School, home of the “SHIPS” in Manitowoc, WI. I was at a PE class all day with a couple of local recruiters. When I arrived at the school and linked up with the coach for the class, I asked him what he wanted me to do with his students. He replied “It’s your show, do whatever you want.” He as well as his students soon learned you never tell a Drill...read more

NASCAR weekend day 2

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:34:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Day two here in ATL did not disappoint. The Strength in Action Zone opened up around 10am and there was a steady flow of people all day. The kids from the day before had set the bar pretty high as far as being fit, but the people who came through today were up to the challenge. On average people were doing 50 push-ups. In fact the record for the day was 67 in one minute. Today saw the first round of females really stepping up to the competition and had no trouble keeping up...read more

NASCAR weekend day 1

Travis Crutcher — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 05:32:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
Well today was the my first day here in Atlanta for the NASCAR weekend, and what a great way to start. I had the opportunity to spend the day and interact with several hundred kids from schools in the Atlanta and surrounding areas. First off anyone who tells you that todays you are weak has not met some of these kids. I had my picture taken with three of them who out performed all their peers in push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups. In fact the winner of sit-ups did 127 repetitions in two minutes....read more

ATL Motor Speedway (Emory Healthcare 500)

Travis Crutcher — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:56:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
The Emory Healthcare 500 is going on at the ATL Motor Speedway. Races begin Friday September 3rd and run through Sunday. Come out and see me at the race track. I will be on sight all three days to answer any questions you may have pertaining to life in the Army, Basic Training, and opportunities the Army can offer. Hope to see you there. DS Crutcher...read more

DSEP Week 1

Travis Crutcher — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 08:40:00 GMT

By: Travis Crutcher
So this is my first post on here and as it turns out over the next six months there will likely be alot more. My name is DS Crutcher and I am currently participating in the DSEP (Drill Sergeant Exhibiter Program). The intent of the program is to utilize more senior Drill Sergeant as assets to travel around the country to key events. The desired effect being an increased awarness among the general public as to exactly what Drill Sergeants do, what basic training is...read more