Subscribe
Kyndra Golloway, 8, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday.

Kyndra Golloway, 8, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Kyndra Golloway, 8, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday.

Kyndra Golloway, 8, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Lincoln Golloway, 4, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday.

Lincoln Golloway, 4, plays on a children's version of an Alpha Warrior "battle rig" while waiting for her father, Air Force Staff Sgt. Seth Golloway of Hurlburt Field, Fla., to compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia of U.S. Army Europe watches his younger brother, Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia of Yokota Air Base, Japan, compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. Noah Palicia completed the course in 18 minutes, 39 seconds, the fastest run of the day.

Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia of U.S. Army Europe watches his younger brother, Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia of Yokota Air Base, Japan, compete at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. Noah Palicia completed the course in 18 minutes, 39 seconds, the fastest run of the day. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Michelle Strickland of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., jumps down to the finish line of the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. She placed second among Air Force women at the event.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Michelle Strickland of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., jumps down to the finish line of the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. She placed second among Air Force women at the event. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jackson of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., swings through an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jackson of Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., swings through an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Jesse Montgomery of Robins Air Force Base, Ga., completes reps with a weighted ball before moving into the next obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Jesse Montgomery of Robins Air Force Base, Ga., completes reps with a weighted ball before moving into the next obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Air Force 2nd Lt. Michelle Strickland of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., finishes the sidewinder obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. She placed second among all Air Force women.

Air Force 2nd Lt. Michelle Strickland of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., finishes the sidewinder obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. She placed second among all Air Force women. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia of U.S. Army Europe navigates an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. He was the top Army finisher with a time of 22 minutes, 54 seconds and earned a spot in the interservice battle Saturday, when he will compete against his brother, Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia.

Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia of U.S. Army Europe navigates an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. He was the top Army finisher with a time of 22 minutes, 54 seconds and earned a spot in the interservice battle Saturday, when he will compete against his brother, Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

Army 2nd Lt. Chris Gabayan of Fort Bragg, N.C., swings through an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. Gabayan has made two appearances on the TV show "American Ninja Warrior," which is a similar style athletic competition.

Army 2nd Lt. Chris Gabayan of Fort Bragg, N.C., swings through an obstacle at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground in San Antonio on Thursday. Gabayan has made two appearances on the TV show "American Ninja Warrior," which is a similar style athletic competition. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

SAN ANTONIO – More than 20 Air Force, Army and Navy servicemembers competed Thursday at the Alpha Warrior Proving Ground outside San Antonio to earn the fastest time within their branch on an intense 32-obstacle course.

With temperatures reached the upper 90s, as participants swung from rings and ropes, climbed walls and raced against the clock to finish within 26 minutes. Between each apparatus were additional challenges that required dragging or pulling heavy weights or completing specific exercises.

Hosted by the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, this is the third year for the Alpha Warrior championship and the second to include other branches of the military. The top three men and top three women from each branch will advance to compete Saturday against each other in an interservice battle.

Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia had the fastest time of the day on the obstacle course, completing the race in 18 minutes, 39 seconds.

thayer.rose@stripes.com Twitter: @Rose_Lori

author picture
Rose L. Thayer is based in Austin, Texas, and she has been covering the western region of the continental U.S. for Stars and Stripes since 2018. Before that she was a reporter for Killeen Daily Herald and a freelance journalist for publications including The Alcalde, Texas Highways and the Austin American-Statesman. She is the spouse of an Army veteran and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in journalism. Her awards include a 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Washington Dateline Award and an Honorable Mention from the Military Reporters and Editors Association for her coverage of crime at Fort Hood.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now