United States Army Sergeant Noah Galloway is part of the “cadre” of military leaders in FOX’s upcoming reality series American Grit, premiering Thursday, April 14 on the network. The series, which is hosted by wrestling superstar John Cena, puts four teams of athletes into military-grade and survival challenges that will test strength and teamwork.
Galloway is joined by veterans of other branches of the military — Navy Seal Commander Rorke Denver, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Tawanda “Tee” Hanible, and Army Ranger Nick “The Reaper” Irving — and the winning team takes home a big monetary prize.
For those unfamiliar with Galloway himself, some background: He’s a Purple Heart recipient who served in the first battalion of the 502nd infantry with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, KY. After his first deployment to Iraq in 2003, he immediately re-enlisted and completed his second deployment to rural Iraq. In 2005, Galloway was driving a Humvee and hit a tripwire that detonated a hidden IED, which threw his vehicle through the air. He lost his left arm above the elbow and his left leg above the knee.
Galloway overcame his disability and dedicated his life to empowering fellow veterans through fitness and motivational speaking. He started the No Excuses Charitable Fund, which raises money and awareness for wounded veterans, and works with charities including Operation Enduring Warrior and Homes for Our Troops, the latter of which builds handicap accessible “smart homes” for wounded veterans. He also participated in the 20th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Late last year, we visited the shooting location of American Grit in Washington State, and spoke to Galloway about what made him interested in doing the series. Galloway recalled a phone conversation with recent Dancing with the Stars competitor and fellow veteran Alek Skarlatos who he spoke with on the phone before doing the show.
“Alek was a veteran that was one of the men who stopped the gunmen in France, and he was hesitant to go on the show,” Galloway recalled.”I told him I could tell he was this good person, and I said ‘Alek, we need to keep a positive image of veterans out there.’ That was what I was pushing, and then when this show came up and it’s not just me, but you’ve got Rorke, Tee, and Nick… they’re superstars in the military, and great personalities; good people. To have a show with the four of us together, leading a team, trying to motivate them, inspire them, and get them through these tough challenges… I thought ‘this is perfect.’ In my mindset, that’s what I want,” he explained.
“I want to see more of this good stuff of our military out there, and I think this show is gonna do that,” he continued. “On top of it, it’s going to be exciting to watch, because you’ve got sixteen extremely tough men and women that have challenged themselves in life already… Olympians, NFL players, timber sports… and women that have overcome all kinds of obstacles in their lives and through sports and fitness have done really well… and they’re here to challenge themselves again. Not just physically, but mentally, and I feel like emotionally…. and at the same time, doing that as a team. That is what drew me in to it; the whole aspect of what it is, and to know that each one of the four military mentors can possibly carry their team all the way to the end, and the team will win a million dollars… I mean, I think that’s incredible,” Galloway enthused.
Galloway’s approach as one of the “Cadre” will be to motivate and inspire, much like he has with his personal training, even though his team already knows how to get things tone. “I just want to be another piece of the puzzle that assists. That helps. And keep the unity together, because you’re stronger as a team, and if I can keep that together, then I think they can be unstoppable,” he says.
Noah Galloway also has some very positive things to say about show host John Cena.
“John Cena is incredible,” he said. “I mean, yes, he is a successful actor, wrestler… I know all about him because I have three children of my own. I have two boys that are 8 and 10… I hear his name constantly. But it’s more than that. You look at his background, and the fact that he’s done more Make-A-Wish than anyone… he’s not just doing it. No, that is passion. That is that he cares, and he is a good person, and you can sense that he is very proud of our military, and he is very respectful to me, Rorke, Tee, and Nick, and I think that him as the host of this show is what is going to make this show. His passion, his dedication, who he is as a person…. I know that it makes it great for us to work with him, and I think that that is gonna draw people in, because it’s no BS. It is real.”
You can see a promo for American Grit below. Come back to KSiteTV more in the coming days for more content related to the show!
