Flying Yankees compete in Warrior Day

Contestants in the three-point basketball shoot bring their skills to the court (north apron) during the 103rd Airlift Wing’s first ever Warrior Day competition, May 4, 2013, at Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Conn. The competition consisted of many events from a truck pull and three-point basketball shoot out to a litter carry and a 50-yard “crab –dash”. The competition aimed to promote physical fitness and esprit de corps within the 103rd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Sen-ior Airman Emmanuel Santiago/Released)

Flying Yankees compete in Warrior Day

Members of the 103rd Airlift Wing perform a litter-carry exercise during the first ever 103rd Airlift Wing Warrior Day, May 4, 2013, at Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Conn. The warrior day was full of competitions that aimed to increase the esprit de corps of the Flying Yankees while promoting physical fitness and unit cohesion. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Emmanuel Santiago/Released)

Flying Yankees compete in Warrior Day

Senior Airman Thomas Buckley from the 103rd Command Post, fights back the sun and heat during the 103rd Air-lift Wing’s Warrior Day. The warm weather and sunny skies made for the perfect day to get out in the sun and engage in friendly competition with other Flying Yankees to boost morale and promote physical fitness. The event took place on May 4, 2013, at the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, Conn. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Emman-uel Santiago/Released)

Flying Yankees compete in Warrior Day

Published May 30, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Joshua Mead
103rd Airlift Wing, Public Affairs

BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE - East Granby, Conn. -- In the spirit of springtime, Flying Yankees from various units came out last drill to throw down in a little bit of friendly competition. The Yankee Warrior Day, as it was called, was the first event of its kind for the 103rd Airlift Wing and offered the Airmen a chance to come together as groups to show each other who was the most physically fit.

The event consisted of challenges such as push-up and sit-up relays, a truck pull, a ruck sack race and sand-filled ammo can run.

According to the event organizers, Yankee Warrior Day is a 103rd Airlift Wing morale and welfare event focused on safely strengthening esprit de corps through physical competition.

Each squadron began at one of the nine predetermined physical endurance competition areas and cycled through the stations when directed to do so.

It was fairly evident that the event did work at bringing some of the organizations together. The 103rd Force Support Squadron had custom t-shirts designed to identify themselves as elite and above the pack. The 103rd Student Flight also got creative with black sports paint, painting their faces as if they were preparing for war.

It was the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron that was arguably the most war-ready though. Finishing the competition with a high score of 69 points, they marginally beat out the 103rd Security Forces Squadron's 62 points.

So, now that the bar has been set and the line drawn in the sand, it's a wonder who will answer the challenge next year. Securi-ty forces may be the obvious competitor, but we can never under-estimate the underdog. Whoever that might be...