Oceanside, Calif. -- A school bell rings as children scramble to their classrooms some making their way outside for a less conventional physical education class.

Each period, hundreds of students gathered at the school's track and football field where Marine volunteers from Camp Pendleton’s Single Marine Program conducted a four-station Physical Education Fitness Challenge at Jefferson Middle School here, March 29.

The students participated in a series of agility and strength building activities such as a tire-flip course, a tug-of-war competition and an obstacle course that included a potato sack race and mesh-net tunnel run.

"The kids were so engaged and so into the activities," said the school's principal, Marie Higareda de Ochoa. "They pushed themselves in a way that they haven't done in a long time."

Ochoa said, the word spread about the Marines’ fitness challenge and got the attention of the next physical education class.

Lance Cpl. Jacob G. Zoerb and Ryan S. Burke, infantrymen with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, encouraged the students during the tug-of-war portion of the event.

"We got a bunch of kids of all ages from different classes, pitted them against each other, did a little motivating and it worked," they said, boasting about the success their groups were having. "We haven't lost yet."

Working together in groups, the students were willingly extending themselves to their own physical limits to help their group win the challenges.

“The kids were applying themselves more than usual,” Ochoa said. “To me that's a good indicator our kids have what it takes. They just need the right inspiration and today was one of those days."

For more information visit Single Marine Program or call (760) 725-6288.

Contact Cpl. Derrick K. Irions at derrick.irions@usmc.mil.