Defenders compete in Global Strike Challenge

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  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

Defenders from across Air Force Global Strike Command participated in the 2017 Global Strike Challenge at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, May 15-19.

 

The security forces squadrons showcased their skills at being an effective fighting force during the five-day challenge pitting each team against the others.

 

“These defenders get a lot of training here. This is a chance to bring in the tactics they have learned to see which base is the best,” said Staff Sgt. Manny Lopez, 620th Ground Combat Training Squadron formal training instructor. “They are getting as close to real world training as we can give them. It’s a highly-competitive atmosphere, and every base is here to be the best.”

 

Six members from each base were chosen to represent their unit in the challenge.

 

“Each base had the same amount of time to prepare,” said Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Davis, 90th Security Forces Group superintendent. “The team conducted daily running, rucking, weight training, firing, land navigation and other tasks to prepare them for the challenge.”

 

Defenders were tested on marksmanship, navigation, self-aid buddy care and tactics throughout the week.

 

“The competition has been challenging but also fun,” said Airman 1st Class Christopher Brooks, 5th Security Forces Squadron security forces member. “Being a new Airman, I have learned a lot from this experience. It’s putting me through situations I have never been in before and it’s teaching me to learn on the go.”

 

The security forces portion is just one of the many competitions, spread out over the next several weeks, which make up the Global Strike Challenge. Missile wings vie for supremacy in security, missile maintenance and operations.

 

“This challenge is important to boost morale and showcase to other wings what we’re capable of,” said Senior Airman Amanda Gordon, 5th SFS alarm monitor. “We have also gotten to learn different tactics from the multiple wings here that we can take back to our unit to practice.”

 

The winners from each challenge will be announced in August at the 2017 Global Strike Command Innovation and Technology Symposium in Shreveport, Louisiana.

 

“There's no doubt the 90th SFG competitors gave maximum effort, maintained the utmost professionalism and bonded as a team,” Davis said. “This will serve even more prevalent in the future as they see each other at work and around town. They've forged a bond that they'll remember well into the future. Trust is an easy word to say, requires time and experiences to build.”