Photo By Senior Airman Keith Holcomb | Kevin Klein, Alpha Warrior athlete, thanks the audience for joining the Alpha Warrior...... read more read more
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – Many Airmen gathered around the new Alpha Warrior exercise course called a battle rig Aug. 24 on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.
“American Ninja Warrior” competitors Kevin Klein, Tawnee Leonardo and McKinley Pierce visited Columbus AFB to reveal the base’s new Alpha Warrior course and provided familiarization training for attendees willing to compete.
The 14th Force Support Squadron hosted a two-day event with Alpha Warrior athletes, base children and adults alike through the motions of functional fitness exercises.
“It went really, really well,” said Zea Urbiztondo, 14th FSS Fitness Center director. “I have heard nothing but good things from everybody that participated. The athletes and crew all had a great time getting to meet the different Airmen and the patrons that used [the rig]. They loved the kids. Even with the event being over, a lot of people said that they went out over the weekend to try it again.”
With over 50 participants in the competition held on the 24th, Team BLAZE showed the Alpha Warrior athletes and construction crew how impactful the battle rig could be.
“Columbus was lucky to have Alpha Warrior athletes Kevin Klein, Tawnee Leonardo, and McKinley Pierce lead a fitness program at the Youth Center, a familiarization demonstration for adults and kids on the battle rig, and a friendly timed competition between Team BLAZE’s fittest Airmen in an effort to further promote physical fitness in one's daily life,” said Maj. Douglas Hickey, 14th FSS commander.
The battle rig is permanently located next to the tennis courts and available for Airmen to try it out.
“My goal is to make that area almost an extension of the Fitness Center,” Urbiztondo said. “I would love to see units go out there and do unit PT, group exercise classes, and people really use this piece of equipment that we brought on for them.”
The Alpha Warrior program did not end with this two-day event. Over the next few weeks, a permanent and larger canopy will be installed over the workout area providing cover from weather elements. The canopy will cover an area that spans 60 feet wide and 100 feet long and will consist of the battle rig and an additional locker that will store kettle bells, ropes, barbells and much more. Hickey stated the space will be large enough to hold squadron fitness sessions, while also leaving room for equipment expansion.
The projected completion for the completed fitness area is mid-October. In addition, another upcoming event is slated for athletes to retest their skills and aim for an Alpha Warrior Regional Qualifier Competition.
The fitness center is scheduled to host the regional qualifying event on Sept. 27. The top three male and female competitors will then head to Hurlburt Field, Florida, in October for the regional competition.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.15.2018 12:31 |
| Story ID: | 296474 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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