JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Fitness center staffs and physical training leaders across the Air Force will soon be armed with the knowledge they need to help warfighters make better use of Alpha Warrior obstacle training equipment at their installations.
Alpha Warrior, built around a unique apparatus, challenges Airmen as they tackle the various obstacles or stations. The program is designed to enhance functional fitness training by incorporating the four pillars of Comprehensive Airmen Fitness – physical, spiritual, mental and social – to help Airmen build and maintain resiliency at home station and while deployed.
Forty-one installations received Alpha Warrior equipment in 2017 – either a 27-foot battle rig or a 12-foot by 12-foot battle station – and 27 are slated to receive it in 2018. At Hill Air Force Base, the equipment is located in the Hess Fitness Center’s new functional training area.
To help bases get the most out of Alpha Warrior, the Air Force Services Activity kicks off a fitness training course tour this month.
“We launched the service-wide Alpha Warrior Program last year as a new, dynamic way for our Airmen to build on their Comprehensive Airman Fitness,” said Col. Donna Turner, Air Force Services Activity commander, “and we’re excited to continue to deliver equipment and roll out our newly developed fitness training course so more Airmen and their families can discover the benefits of this type of fitness regimen.”
During the training tour, conducted by Alpha Warrior athletes at 33 installations, fitness center staffs and unit PTLs will learn how to incorporate equipment they have – such as medicine balls, battle ropes and kettlebells – with Alpha Warrior obstacles to developing a complete fitness regimen for warfighters.
“Once training is complete, PTLs and fitness center teams will know much more about using Alpha Warrior equipment in conjunction with their routine squadron physical training programs,” said Margaret Treland, chief of Air Force fitness and sports at AFSVA.
Alpha Warrior offers Airmen much more than just running or lifting weights, Turner added.
“Alpha Warrior builds on overall fitness levels, increases lethality and resiliency of our Airmen and ensures our Airmen are fit to fight whether at home station or in a deployed environment,” Turner said. “And, it gives them the chance to build on common fitness goals with friends or coworkers.”
In addition to bolstering unit fitness training, fitness center staffs will be able to help customers, regardless of where they fall on the fitness continuum, to improve their fitness and health using Alpha Warrior equipment, Treland added.
Although training is only taking place at installations with the larger battle rigs, bases with battle stations are being given the opportunity to send a two-person team to a nearby training location.
For more information on Alpha Warrior, visit www.myairforcelife.com.
