No matter the sport they played, every athlete - playing at every level - eventually has the same title they use to describe themselves.
"Former."
GMTM co-founder and "former" Air Force football player Connor Dietz knows that better than anyone. And that's why he is so passionate about helping former athletes find new opportunities to display their talent.
"Whether that career ends at high school or whether that career ends after college," Ditz explained on The Tactical Fitness Report podcast, "there's a lot of other incredible ways to use that experience in a new career."
One of those opportunities that Dietz is bringing to light is a virtual event hosted on GMTM by the U.S. Air Force.
The USAF Special Warfare Workout Challenge is a virtual showcase on gmtm.com, where athletes, current and former, can be introduced to and train with one of the Air Force's most elite teams.
GMTM
"This online event gives athletes a chance to build their brand and gain exposure to real career opportunities," Dietz continues, "and it's more accessible and interactive than any outreach before this."
Within the virtual event, which is free to all participants, athletes get a behind-the-scenes look at tactical training and try it out for themselves from home. The same tests combat controllers are doing at Air Force training can be tried by completed by any athlete in any area.
The event features three different workouts that are examples of real training select Special Warfare Airmen are doing to train for combat. Below, you can read about each one and learn how to submit your own workout for review.
Operator Fitness Test
The Special Warfare Operator Fitness Test is given during Special Warfare Prep training and is used as a measurement tool for establishing a baseline of fitness performance.
It’s designed around the four career paths of Special Warfare: Special Reconnaissance, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Combat Control (CCT) and Pararescue (PJ).
Click HERE to try it for yourself.
Mission Prep Workout
The Mission Prep Workout helps elite airmen to prepare for the anticipated heavy lifting they may have to do behind enemy lines. And when time is of the essence, training for unique situations is essential.
Load-bearing workouts are extremely important for Special Warfare Airmen. They never know what situation they could end up in or the distance they’ll have to go to save a fellow service member. The Air Force Special Warfare place special importance on this type of training, saying:
These exercises will put your strength to the test and show you what muscles Special Warfare Airmen use both in training and when the mission calls for it.
Click HERE to try the Mission Prep Workout at home.
Agility Workout
The Agility Workout is one of the basic pieces of Special Warfare training because it introduces a test to a variety of muscle groups.
A Special Warfare Airman’s situation could change on a dime. That’s why it’s so crucial for their bodies to be in peak condition and that they have the strength, agility and endurance to keep the mission on track and make sure it’s a success.
Click HERE to try the Agility Workout for yourself.
