Alpha Warrior tour visits Spangdahlem

  • Published
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The Air Force is continuing its rollout of the Alpha Warrior program with the launch of the 2018 Alpha Warrior meet-and-greet tour.

Alpha Warrior, built around a unique apparatus, challenges Airmen as they compete in various obstacles against their fellow Airmen.

“This program is designed to enhance functional fitness training by incorporating the four pillars of comprehensive Airmen fitness – physical, spiritual, mental and social,” said Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Dyer, 52nd Fighter Wing command chief. “During this event you will need teammates to help contribute to those four pillars and you will see just how important they are.”

Tour stops are typically two days – day one is focused on setting up equipment and familiarization. Day two features an installation competition in which the participants tackle the battle rig.

“Familiarization is a huge part of this course for most people,” said Sarah Hessen, American Ninja Warrior national finalist and Alpha Warrior primary tour coach. “We open up the battle rig an hour before the event starts to help people get familiar with the rig before the real competition starts.”

“I love the battle rig because it doesn’t matter how tall a person is or how buff a person is, it doesn’t matter if someone is 250 pounds of pure muscle or fat, the competitor is still trying to lift all of their body weight, it’s an exercise that is equal for all,” said Hessen. “The battle rig highlights the different strengths and skills of everyone who participates and the results are different for each person.”

Installations are receiving either a battle rig (a 27-foot competition rig) or battle station (a 12-foot by 12-foot training rig) based on the desires of local leadership. Spangdahlem AFB received a battle station that is set up outside the Powerhaus fitness center by the track.

This year’s meet-and-greet tour introduces the fitness initiative to Airmen at 34 Air Force installations around the world. It follows the 2017 tour that delivered equipment to 41 installations.

During the meet and greet tour there will be a regional competition in September 2018, where the winners of that competition will compete in the annual Air Force Final Battle, which will be held November 2018 at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground at Retama Park, Selma, Texas.

For more information on Alpha Warrior, visit www.myairforcelife.com or visit www.alphawarrior.com.