ATOA Membership Dues due every year on 1October.
Please submit to:
Alabama
Tactical Officers Association
Attention: Treasurer
1634 A Montgomery Highway #181
Hoover, AL USA 35216-4902
Alabama Tactical Fitness Competition
With soaring temperatures and humidity five ATOA Teams went all-out in the summer heat in a extreme fitness competition, Saturday 24 July, 2010.
The event held in Hoover was hosted by the Combat Fitness Training Facility (www.combatfitnesstf.com) and brought tactical athletes from Hoover PD, Homewood PD, Chilton County SO and Shelby County SO together at the CFTF gym atop a hill overlooking an industrial park. The setting was industrial...the events---medieval.
Combat Fitness Training Facility is the brainchild of a former Special Forces Soldier, Sean Dickson. He is reaching out to the local tactical community and public service guys in a great effort to provide knowledge and experience-based fitness programs. He has caused marked improvements in students' cardio, strength and flexibility meanwhile keeping them interested and focused on the goal. Mission readiness. He understands long hot days in body armor, he understands down time between operations, he understands the body and how it works.
The day started with a thorough, but quick briefing. In a short time competitors went from flat-footed on the floor to slapping a beam 18 feet off of the ground, by rope. The intensity continued back on the floor donning gas masks and mounting rowing machines for a 500 meter row. From a life in the belly of a Roman galley the competitors were then out in the sun for a 400+ pound tire flip for 15 meters. The wild card tire, that moved to the next lane after each heat, weighed an additional 50 pounds. A little planning would put the teams' strongest on the heavy tire...if you were into strategizing. Two 45 pound ammo cans waited at the end of the tire flipping...carry them to the observation post where the competitors were allowed five seconds to locate, ID and remember details of a target some 300 meters away. Back on the ammo cans for another delivery 250 meters down the hill. Downhill always equates to uphill at some point. But first a temporary separation from the ammo cans while the competitor donned a weighted rucksack and began a 400 meter run while the cans waited for their return. Upon returning the rucksack was grounded and the cans retrieved for what was described as painful ascent against the forces of heat and gravity. The gate of Combat Fitness and Sean waited at the finish line. Though the time stopped, the event continued with a brief 3 question interview which could add 30 seconds to the raw time for wrong answers. Thirty seconds was a long time in this group of warriors.
WILD CARD TIRE!
Hoover SWAT Medic Andy Herron drew the heavy tire in Heat #5.
At the end of five heats the numbers were added up and Hoover PD's Team 1 and Team 2 were on the top of the list. The top two teams would compete for the championship. A request was made and granted to allow for another team to have a chance at the top slot. The Hoover team leader's agreed to form a team based on their top scorers and face off against Shelby County SO for the #1 position.
Standings after the first event-
Hoover PD Team 1- 67:45
Hoover PD Team 2- 72:14
Shelby County- 73:41
Chilton County- 78:12
Homewood PD- 83:25
RUCKS AWAY!
Hoover PD & Chilton County SO urged on by team mates on the ruck run.
The Final Event
After a rest and refit period the final event was briefed. A stretcher carry/run with a team member on the stretcher would be the first section of the team event. This was followed by another uphill battle maneuvering two of the tires (lashed together) up the gravity-coated drive to the gym. The final section of the event required each team to complete a 5000 meter row and 500 burpees. The burpee is some form of sadistic push-up that requires the afflicted to drop from a standing position, kick their legs out, do a push-up and spring up, clapping their hands over their head. Sounds simple until you are faced with 500 of 'em.
The movement portion of the final event was a back and forth race with the lead swapping several times. The Hoover team was first into the gate with their 800 pound package with the Shelby County boys on their heels. The work in the gym was unrelenting and a blur of movement and sweat. The rules allowed for only one competitor at a time to be exercising, which allowed for various pictures of team members watching their mates as they tried to catch their breath for their next go at repetitions. Sweat puddled on the rubber mats as they continued grinding out burpees then rowing then burpees again. Finally, with as much a cry as they could muster the Shelby County team marked their win with burpee #500. The Hoover burpee count was 413 and the event was done.
This event was a first time event and brought together some of the ATOA's most competitive teams. The friendship was evident and the trash-talk was at a minimum as the four teams have trained and operated together at various times over the years. Sean is planning the next one...promising to bring more heat and misery.
Congratulations Shelby County TRU!
