Alpha Warrior final battle returns to San Antonio

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Story by Angelina  Casarez
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs

The 2018 Alpha Warrior Final Battle will feature the first ever inter-service competition with Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors competing Nov. 17 at Retama Park in Selma, Texas.
The program, conducted by the Air Force Services Activity, a subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, expanded from an Air Force-only event in 2017 to include Army and Navy competitors in its second season. Each service will field a six-person coed team to determine the Department of Defense winner.
The inter-service battle will occur on the heels of the second-annual Air Force Alpha Warrior Final Battle that takes place Nov. 16 at noon. Fifty Airmen from around the world will compete for that title and a shot the next day at the inter-service crown. 
Both events are open to DoD ID cardholders and their families.
Saturday’s inter-service battle begins at 9 a.m. and will include welcome remarks, national anthem performed by an Air Force Band of the West vocalist, Honor Guard posting of the colors, Delayed Entry Program swearing-in ceremony for new recruits and the inter-service competition.
“Alpha Warrior offers Airmen a way to hone their skills, build confidence, increase lethality and resiliency for our Airmen,” said Col. Donna Turner, Air Force Services Activity commander. “Our Airmen have been looking forward to another opportunity to “prove it” on the battle rig.” 
The program specializes in creating obstacle courses for the military, which test agility, functionality and resilience. A combination of obstacles and functional fitness apparatuses challenge competitors in various ways to include climbing, pull ups, gymnastic rings, running, jumping, and weight-lifting.
“Including these elements between obstacles is a change from last year that incorporates what we are doing with the Battle Rig Fitness Course and unit fitness sessions at the installation level,” said Maj. Austin Pruneda, AFSVA chief of Fitness, Readiness and Reserve Affairs. 
The Air Force Alpha Warrior program provides dynamic fitness training options that focus on the four pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness: physical, spiritual, mental and social.
AFSVA partnered with Alpha Warrior three years ago as part of a commitment to build ready and resilient Airmen, whether in a deployed environment or at home station.
“The obstacles are challenging both mentally and physically,” said Jim Anderson, AFSVA branch chief. “In addition to the competition, we’ll have other activities and vendors catering to a military audience. It’ll be a fun weekend.”
During 2017 and 2018, more than 70 installations received 27-foot Battle Rigs or 12-foot Battle Stations as part of Meet-and-Greet Celebrity Familiarization Tours. The two-day tours included setting up the equipment, familiarization and an installation competition.
In 2018, AFSVA began a new initiative, a battle rig fitness course, during which Alpha Warrior trainers train installation physical training leaders and fitness staff to use the equipment.
“It’s necessary to follow through with the installation staff we support and ensure Airmen understand how to use the equipment we’ve provided,” said Pruneda. “We want to bring unit cohesion and camaraderie back into physical training so wingmen can motivate others to get fit.”

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