Photo By Spc. Aiden OMarra | U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division demonstrate a technique...... read more read more
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Fort Bragg, North Carolina – The Fighters Union, a combatives gym located on Fort Bragg, was created as a way for those with a fighting spirit to hone their close-range combat training through strenuous preparation.
The 82nd Airborne Division’s mission is to project ready combat power through joint forcible parachute assaults, but once on the ground Paratroopers must be poised to dominate any situation including close quarter hand-to-hand combat to defeat any adversary and secure key objectives.
This kind of training forms lifelong bonds and friendships among Paratroopers through the trials of and tribulations of hard work.
“We show up for one another,” said Sgt. Maj. Alan Sutton, who established the Fighters Union September 2024. “It's about seeing each other grow as a family, profession, and as a team. We want you to feel like you’re home.”
Sutton recently served as the operations sergeant major for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, realized his dream of creating a place for Paratroopers across the Division to have a sense of belonging, family, unity, growth, and teamwork, while enhancing lethality across the brigades.
“The Fighters Union is unique in the fact that it’s for Paratroopers, by Paratroopers,” said Staff Sgt. Donovan Taylor, a combat engineer assigned to 22nd Combat Engineer Company, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT. “It provides an outlet to our people that allows them to enable mind, body, and spirit while harnessing and polishing the inner warfighter for today’s Soldier.”
“This is what we do best as a team of senior leaders, Paratroopers, and a vast variety of different military occupational specialties across Fort Bragg, and the Army.”
The fight house is home to different skill levels ranging from white belts to black belts that has prepared Paratroopers for competitions across the United States.
Capt. Gray Cole, a chaplain assigned to the 127th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 1st BCT, emphasized how people come to the mats for different reasons.
“Regardless of what brings them, they find elite training, camaraderie and humbling life lessons,” said Cole. “The Fighters Union is a unique venue for Paratroopers. It refines them physically, emotionally and spiritually. My hope is to see every Paratrooper walk through those doors.”
The Fighters Union, located in Building C-2717 on Gruber Road, is led by Taylor, Cole, Steiner, and Spc. Amanda Valdez, a medic with 1st BCT. Their mission is to reach as many Paratroopers as possible and grow as a powerful force for self-improvement within the Division.
The gym is available at no-cost for Paratroopers and open during physical training hours in the morning, after work and on the weekends. The training consists of Brazilian jiujitsu, a martial arts discipline that focuses on grappling and ground fighting. The classes incorporate both the Army combat uniform, regular gym wear, and the gi, a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced pants, and belt.
Sutton, now serves as the command sergeant major of 1st Battalion, 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, The Old Guard, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia. He hopes to grow the Fighters Union and build another gym there.
“The mission is to build a community outside of work, free of ego, with personal development.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2025 18:13 |
| Story ID: | 491706 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 270 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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