In 2007, with a second deployment to Iraq on the horizon, United States Marine Corps 1st Lt. Travis Manion’s family questioned why he had to go back to war. His answer exuded character and bravery: “If not me, then who?”
“We took those five words and we turned them into a national movement,” said Ryan Manion, Travis’ sister and president of the Travis Manion Foundation. “Our organization is all based on community. It’s about bringing people together — both our military community and our civilian community — to demonstrate what it means to live by ‘If not me, then who.’”
The Travis Manion Foundation
On April 29, 2007, Travis, 26, and his fellow Marines were ambushed while searching a suspected insurgent house in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. Travis led the counterattack against enemy forces, and while coming to the aid of his teammates was fatally wounded by sniper fire. His courageous acts allowed every member of his patrol to survive. Travis was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his decisive leadership and courage.
Travis Manion
The Travis Manion Foundation was established in 2008 and was originally intended as a “labor of love,” said Ryan, and a way for her and Travis’ mother and founder of the foundation, Janet Manion, to channel their grief. But what started as a small local nonprofit helping veterans in the Philadelphia area has blossomed into a resource for tens of thousands of veterans and civilians.
“We are one of the leading veteran service organizations in the nation,” Ryan said. “We’ve worked with over 78,000 veterans, and we have a membership base of over 275,000.”
An important part of veterans successfully acclimating to the civilian world when their military service concludes, Ryan said, is providing them with continuing opportunities to serve. The Travis Manion Foundation does this through the various programs and events it hosts focused on character building. These programs are designed to support veterans and families of the fallen by empowering them to share their values with their communities and the next generation.
“Our signature program that we have at the organization is called ‘Character Does Matter.’ We actually train veterans to deliver character education to youth,” Ryan explained. “We’ve presented the program to over half a million kids across the country, and we have thousands of veterans who are trained to deliver this character education.”
Today there are several high-school service clubs that participate in the Manion WOD each year, helping spread the message that joining fitness and character building will lead to stronger communities and a better future.
“When veterans come home and take off the uniform, we constantly push that we still need you. We still need you to serve, and frankly, they still need to serve,” Ryan said. “When they take that uniform off, that desire to serve does not go away.”
CrossFit Joins the Movement
Manion became an official CrossFit Hero WOD on July 19, 2011, when the following workout was posted on CrossFit.com:
7 rounds for time of:
400-m run
29 back squats (95/135 lb)
The rep scheme signifies the date Travis died, April 29, 2007 — 400 m for the fourth month of the year, 29 back squats for the day, and 7 rounds for the year 2007. The workout was created by Jimi Letchford who was then an employee of CrossFit HQ and now serves as president at GORUCK, the official apparel and footwear partner of the CrossFit Games and an event partner of the Travis Manion Foundation. Letchford wrestled with Travis at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the movements in the workout were chosen based on Travis’ incredibly strong legs, which have been described as “tree trunks.”
“(Travis’ legs) were the strongest part of his body,” Ryan said. “And as big as his legs were, he was a really quick runner. (The workout) was specifically designed to be all about the legs. Just killing your legs.”
In 2015, the Travis Manion Foundation debuted the Manion WOD to the community as an annual event in which athletes in CrossFit affiliates, garage gyms, and even outdoor spaces around the nation complete the workout to honor the lives and legacies of Travis and all the other men and women who have served.
Now in its 10th year, and as we approach the 17th anniversary of Travis’ death, the Manion WOD is a national fundraiser that helps the Travis Manion Foundation continue to develop programs and events to serve the veteran and civilian communities.
“Anyone can be a part of our organization. You don’t have to be a service member, in the military, or military-connected,” Ryan said. “One of our big goals is to make sure that we’re breaking down that civilian/military divide. That means offering opportunities for our civilians to get engaged and become a part of our programs.”
The Manion WOD can be done anywhere and by anyone, Ryan said, noting that it was her first-ever CrossFit workout. Scaled and modified versions are welcomed and encouraged.
“We encourage you to partner on this WOD. We encourage you to do air squats instead of weighted squats if that’s not something you’ve been exposed to previously,” she said. “It’s all about pushing yourself.”
“As hard as this workout is, you think about the men and women who gave their lives defending our freedom and you can’t complain too much,” she added.
Get Involved
There are currently more than 200 CrossFit affiliates registered to host the Manion WOD in 2024, and participant registration is up 30% from 2023. Registration is open now, and you can check out this page for a list of CrossFit gyms and additional locations hosting the event in the coming weeks. You may also join virtually and complete the Manion WOD in your home or garage gym. If you’re a gym owner, you can sign up to host a Manion WOD at your gym. Get involved via any of the above options through the button below.
“If Not Me, Then Who?” — Honoring the Legacy of Travis Manion