Van Alstyne followed a few months later. She remembered a tough time during boot camp where she was considering leaving, partly because of the stress, and partly because she was worried about her family back home being without her. She called Williams for his advice. Her LE partner was now a second class machinery technician at PSU 305’s waterside division. This time is was Williams who reassured Van Alstyne; he told her it was worth it to stay, and that he’d look out for her family while she was away. Within a few weeks, she finished training strong and joined PSU 305’s shoreside division as a maritime enforcement specialist. As part of her training plan, she noted that one of her goals was to become a boxer within the next few years. During the week, Van Alstyne worked as a police officer, gravitating toward community relations, mentoring and problem solving with other leaders in the community. She kept up her daily workouts, and three evenings per week, she boxed with her uncle, Ras Blessings, known as Coach Big Lion. “She’s a major pillar of this community through her community service and working with the youth,” he said, noting that boxing wasn’t just about competing, but also about TJ building a legacy and a history. “She’s a big advocate for women and the local community. She’s an overall humanitarian.” Williams said that Van Alstyne has the presence that captures peoples attention. “I like working with her because when she speaks, people listen. It’s like talking to a company commander [at boot camp].You get dialed in; you listen to what she has to say,” he said. When her unit deployed to support maritime operations as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, she spent time in the boxing gym training for the Olympic trials, under her uncle’s remote direction and guidance. In between her time qualifying and standing duty, she was able to concentrate on training, spending time on the basics: footwork, punches, jabs, uppercuts, roadwork, conditioning. “We always stick with the basics because basics are what can get it done,” said Big Lion, noting that Van Alstyne’s strength is her defense. “It becomes automatic. You don’t have to do anything extraordinary to win in the ring—it’s about sticking to the basics.” As she trained in Guantanamo Bay, she couldn’t help collecting others along the way. “She pretty much started up her own boxing group down there [in Cuba] with different branches,” said Williams. Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Birds in the ring during a recent bout. Inset: Official portrait of Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Birds Photos courtesy Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Birds — WINTER 2024 20
