American Grit

Premise

Sixteen competitors are divided into four teams of four, each led by a military veteran who is designated as the team's cadre. The teams compete in a series of challenges called "Evolutions," modeled after military training exercises, and must cope with both the physical rigors and demands of the outdoor wilderness setting. All members of the winning team are safe from elimination and advance to the next round, while the leaders of the other three teams each choose one member to participate in "The Circus," an elimination challenge consisting of a grueling obstacle course followed by an endurance test. As long as a team has at least two members, the same person cannot be sent to the Circus on two consecutive episodes. The obstacle course remains constant, but the endurance test changes from one episode to the next. The endurance test begins once all three participants have completed the obstacle course, with the first- and second-place finishers receiving an advantage over the third-place finisher. The Circus continues until one person quits, fails the endurance test or becomes physically unable to continue, at which point he/she is eliminated from the competition. Eliminated competitors ring a ship's bell on the site before departing, after the tradition of Navy SEAL trainees "ringing out" when they choose to withdraw from the program.

In the season finale, all competitors take part in an extended Circus. This Circus continues until all members of three teams have dropped out of the endurance portion, and the remaining members of the fourth team each receive a $250,000 cash prize. Clare Painter and Mark Bouquin from Team Noah were both awarded this prize as the winners of this season.

Cast/hosts

John Cena

Rorke Denver, a US Navy SEAL Commander who led assault teams worldwide. He is notable for starring in Act of Valor.

Noah Galloway, a US Army member of the 502nd Infantry and 101st Airborne Division, awarded the Purple Heart when he lost his left arm and left leg in a roadside bomb attack

Tawanda "Tee" Hanible, a US Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant

Nick Irving, a US Army sniper with the 3rd Ranger Battalion with thirty-three confirmed kills

Contestants

The contestants range in age from 22 to 54.

Contestant progress

     The player or players were the winner(s) of American Grit.      The player was on the winning team in an Evolution and automatically advanced to the next stage of the competition.      The player was on a losing team, but was exempt from the Circus due to having been chosen for it in the previous episode.      The player was on a losing team in an Evolution, but was not chosen for the Circus.      The player was on a losing team in an Evolution, competed in the Circus and advanced.      The player competed in the Circus and was eliminated.