U.S. Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia and his brother, U.S. Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia, work out on an Alpha Warrior rig at Retama Park, Selma, Texas, Sept. 10. The brothers both qualified for the chance to represent their service in the Inter-Service Battle, Sept. 14. Photo by Debbie Aragon/U.S. Air Force.
Two brothers — an Air Force instructor pilot and an Army engineer — will battle it out in the NBC series “The Titan Games,” which features people from across America competing in endurance-based mental and physical challenges.
Air Force Capt. Noah Palicia, stationed in Yokota, Japan, and his older brother, Army Lt. Col. Eric Palicia, stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, have a very special person to thank.
“After winning the [Defense Department] Alpha Warrior Interservice Battle for the second year in a row, my wife posted a message on ‘The Titan Games’ Instagram, saying that they should choose the Palicia brothers for season 2,” Noah Palicia said. “I received a phone call at 2 a.m. from the casting director, asking if I would like to submit an audition tape and try out for the show. After making the tape, I was invited to the combined tryout and found out my brother and I made the show.”
The Palicias participated in the tryout Jan. 9-14 in Los Angeles, and they found out they made the show a week later. They traveled to Atlanta for the filming of the series.
“It was an experience I will never forget,” Noah Palicia said. “Not only was I able to compete with some of the best athletes in the world on a larger stage than I have ever competed on, but I also was able to enjoy the whole experience with my brother. I pushed myself to new limits, had a ton of fun, and, most importantly, bonded with my older brother doing something we both enjoy most — competition!”
“It was so much more than a competition though,” he continued. “Definitely a TV show first and a competition second. Never again do I wish to compete with makeup caked on my face and then have to answer hours of interview questions pre and post competition.”
Now comes the interesting part — family, friends and comrades get to see them on TV.
“‘I’m thrilled … and a little terrified!’ I said from the moment that my brother and I were informed we were going to be on ‘The Titan Games.’ I just don’t want to become a meme!” Noah Palicia said with a laugh. “I would be surprised and disappointed if my fellow aircrew didn’t give me a hard time for some silly things I was either told to say on camera or let slip out of my mouth. My non-aircrew co-workers, family and friends will be impressed with my determination and be thrilled to see a friendly face on the big screen.”
Six other service members and veterans are also competing in the series. “The Titan Games” airs Monday nights.
George A. Smith is assigned to the American Forces Network Broadcast Center.
This article was originally published on May 26, 2020, by the Department of Defense.
Katie McCarthy is the managing editor for Coffee or Die Magazine. Her career in journalism began at the Columbus (Georgia) Ledger-Enquirer in 2008, where she learned to navigate the newsroom as a features reporter, copy editor, page designer, and online producer; prior to joining Coffee or Die, she worked for Outdoor Sportsman Group as an editor for Guns & Ammo magazine and their Special Interest Publications division. Katie currently lives in Indiana with her husband and two daughters.
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