JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
The Battle Rig – that’s the name of the obstacle course that opened in Early August at Langley Air Force Base’s Community Commons.
The Battle Rig, which is open to everyone with a government ID, was built by the Alpha Warrior Company to encourage individuals to apply functional workouts to their fitness programs.
“It works muscles and muscle groups that you may not work out regularly,” said Jim Anderson, the Air Force Services Activity business and recreation branch chief at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. “(It works) muscles that you may use in your day-to-day work environment and your personal environment.”
The rig consists of many obstacles that use the upper body, core muscles and most of all, grip strength.
The rig is not just for individual use however, it’s a great opportunity for groups and units to work out and do different kinds of physical training together.
“This is something new and something fun for people to experience,” said U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt Anthony Garcia, 633rd Force Support Squadron chief of the fitness and sports section. “Some people don’t like lifting weights for a long period of time, they’d rather experience something more variable and I think this will benefit those people.”
To encourage people to use the course, Alpha Warrior is holding a competition November 11, 2017 in San Antonio. Alpha Warrior is accepting the top male and female with the fastest times from 15 regions, and the top 10 male and female overall times, for a total of 50 candidates.
Alpha Warrior will then fly the 50 candidates to San Antonio to compete in the competition, which will be treated as a temporary duty assignment. While the course is open to everyone, the competition is only open to Air Force Active-Duty members or Reservists on active orders.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis is holding their pre-qualifications at the Community Commons Oct. 14, 2017, and a regional competition on Oct. 21, 2017. The Community Commons is also holding training at 1-3 p.m. on September 25, 2017, for individuals who may not know how to properly use the equipment, but still wish to use the course.
“The whole point for it being open now is for people to practice,” said Garcia. “Get your times up, improve your grip strength and work on your endurance. So, practice now, grab a buddy and just go through the rig.”
For more information call the Shellbank Fitness Center at 225-8165.