JBLE Airmen take first in Alpha Warrior Competition

By Airman 1st Class Anthony Nin Leclerec / Published Oct. 17, 2018
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va.,

Fifteen U.S. Air Force Airmen from different bases participated in the Alpha Warrior Northeast Regional Competition at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Oct. 13, 2018.

 

JBLE’s U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Earl White, 1st Maintenance Squadron aircraft fuel systems maintenance craftsman, and 1st Lt. Nicole Mitchell, 83rd Network Operations Squadron directory crew commander, placed 1st in both the male and female categories.

 

“Since last year after doing Alpha Warrior for the first time, I wanted to continue to challenge myself to compete and train in this type of fitness and obstacles,” Mitchell said. “Trying to defend my title was not the reason for competing this year, but definitely humbled that I was able to.”

 

This year, the Battle Rig was configured for the Osprey Tab Test, consisting of burpees, ring board (no rings), cliff hanger board, medicine ball tricep push-ups, landmine squats, knee-ups, broken bars, total body resistance low rows, battle rope double waves, slam ball squat throws, devil steps, accelerator runs, core hammer power slams, a rope climb and a lap around the battle rig.

 

“Coming into this year's competition, I didn’t know it was different from last year, but I was glad it was because it created another challenge just as it was the first time,” Mitchell said. “This year was not just the rig, but added components that really challenge you to push through full-body fatigue versus solely upper body. The only expectation I set for myself was to complete 100 percent of the course and if I couldn’t, practice and train until I could.”

 

Throughout the competition cheers from friends and family could be heard as each competitor took on the rig. Even the competitors, though rivals for the fastest time, cheered each other on, encouraging their fellow wingmen to push past their limits and complete the challenge.

 

“It's a great feeling to win but an even better feeling to compete with passionate and dedicated athletes that challenge and motivate you to succeed,” Mitchell said. “The feeling of winning comes secondary to the feeling of completing 100 percent of the course.”

 

According to the Shellbank Fitness Center director, Tony Arroyo, the Battle Rig doesn’t just help Airmen improve physically.

 

“The Air Force Alpha Warrior Program is designed to enhance and challenge the four domains of comprehensive Airmen fitness – physical, mental, spiritual and social,” Arroyo said. “Going through the obstacles and preparing for them helps our Airmen improve quality of life and increase their resilience.”