KNOXVILLE, TN (September 7, 2019) – Being in the military takes both mental and physical toughness. Staff Sgt. Dakota Ray, a 134th Air Refueling Wing member, participated in the 2019 Tactical Games from August 10-11.
His skills and discipline as a Security Forces Airman prepared him to compete in the competition.
“In the military, specifically Security Forces, we should be prepared to resolve any type of issue that may arise,” said Ray.
This type of competition required a good deal of preparation. Ray spent months leading up to the event working out and getting himself ready for the difficult task.
“I did a lot of functional fitness style workouts, focusing on working out at a high tempo with an extremely elevated heart rate,” said Ray. “Once I got more comfortable in my fitness training, I started incorporating firearms into my workouts. One of my workouts, for example, involved a circuit of dragging a weighted sled two-hundred yards, farmers walks with heavy dumbbells, and hill sprints followed by shooting at fifty yards with my pistol. I feel this style of training is paramount for being competitive at these events.”
Ray said he didn’t just get physical aspects out of the competition, he also made friends along the way.
“Aside from actually competing, the camaraderie of The Tactical Games was the best part,” said Ray. “Everyone is friendly, willing to help each other, and rooting for everyone's success. It's truly a one of a kind experience!”
Ray placed sixth out of 32 contestants in his division, and twelfth out of 90 contestants overall.
“In today's climate, it's unknown where the next threat might come from,” said Ray. “Training for, and competing in, The Tactical Games helped me stay prepared and be more proficient in doing my job in the Air National Guard.”
The Tactical Games is designed to test tactical athletes throughout the continuum of combat-related tasks, while under time constraints, and under physical duress.
For more information on the Tactical Games, visit www.thetacticalgames.com.