With planning in progress for the 2026 CrossFit Games Season, CrossFit is proud to name the Air National Guard (ANG) as the official presenting sponsor of the 2026 CrossFit Open and co-host of several events throughout the competitive season. This partnership underscores the strong ties between the CrossFit community and the U.S. Military, marking the first time a non-apparel or footwear partner has presented the Open.
Highlights of this unique new partnership include:
- Airmen Participation in Open Announcements: In advance of the Open, CrossFit Seminar Staff will spend a week at an Air National Guard base to teach CrossFit classes to over 140 Airmen. These Airmen will nominate three of their peers that they believe embody “Excellence and Service Before Self” during their CrossFit training to participate in a Live Open Announcement. These Airmen will be featured in the Livestream, competing against their peers.
- CrossFit Everyday Hero Service Games: The ANG will also sponsor this November’s Service Games at CrossFit Mayhem, a competition exclusive to active-duty military, first responders, healthcare workers, and government employees. ANG will participate in the opening ceremonies, honor those who serve with a Salute to Service, and engage with over 20 Airmen and ROTC members on-site.
- CrossFit x ANG Experiential Events: Throughout the 2026 competitive season, CrossFit and ANG will host six community activations across the United States, bringing together affiliate owners, trainers, athletes, and ANG/ROTC members for educational sessions, workouts, and community-building experiences.
“This marks the most integrated partnership CrossFit has ever done with a Military branch. Through our partnership, we’ll demonstrate to the world how CrossFit enables peak physical and mental readiness for all careers, especially for those who want to be the tip of the spear,” said Greg Schwartz, Vice President of Global Partnerships at CrossFit. “The CrossFit community will gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content created with the Air National Guard, showcasing the lives and training of Airmen. ”
“Partnering with CrossFit allows the Air National Guard to demonstrate how fitness, resilience, and service go hand in hand,” said Chief Master Sergeant John D. Hawley, Marketing Branch Chief, Air National Guard. “Together, we’re not only strengthening the readiness of our Airmen but also inspiring Americans everywhere to embrace a lifestyle of discipline, teamwork, and service to something greater than themselves.”
CrossFit and the Air National Guard are united by a mission to promote peak physical and mental readiness. Through this new partnership, CrossFit and the Air National Guard aim to inspire the next generation to embrace fitness, discipline, and service.
About the Air National Guard
The mission of the Air National Guard is to provide ready units to protect U.S. and allied interests at home and abroad.
The Air National Guard, a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force with both federal and state missions, organizes, trains, and equips Airmen for combat, humanitarian, and emergency operations. It supports national defense, responds to state emergencies, and delivers critical capabilities in airpower, cyber defense, space operations, and disaster response.
The Air National Guard recruits thousands of enlisted and officer personnel each year in fields such as Aviation, Cyber, Intelligence, Security Forces, Maintenance, Medical, and Emergency Management. Members serve part-time or full-time, offering flexible service options.
Learn more about Air National Guard careers at: https://www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve/air-national-guard.