Security forces test body, mind during Crow Creek Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Warren's defenders put their minds, muscles and teamwork to the test last week during their annual summer competition, Crow Creek Challenge.

The competition was created about 18 years ago by Chief Master Sgt. (ret) Gary Kelly, former security forces group chief enlisted manager, and was geared to test Airmen's basic level knowledge of various tasks required by their Air Force Specialty Code, as well as physically challenging them.

"This offers our junior enlisted corps -- E-1 through E-5 -- a chance to come out and display their leadership abilities," said Master Sgt. Gary Snyder II, 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron camper support NCO-in-charge. "This event allows participants to have fun and put into practice some of the skills [they] are required to know but may not have used since technical school."

Crow Creek Challenge aids in instilling the fundamentals of leadership, followership and teamwork, while also acting as a morale booster, he added.

Defenders are divided into fire teams to compete in the different events of the challenge. A fire team consists of four individuals.

"Typically, a fire team is the smallest group of individuals security forces use in air base defense," said Master Sgt. Garrett Langston, 90th Security Forces Group Task Response Force. "Here, they are used for roving security patrols and incident response both on base and in the missile field."

There are roughly 18 to 20 different events each fire team of defenders can expect to participate in during a 15-minute time limit. The events range from weapon breakdown and nomenclature identification, self aid buddy care, and an obstacle course.

"These obstacles are tailor made to mentally and physically test our defenders," Snyder said. "The bottom line is, no matter what the event is, everyone -- spectators included -- get wrapped up in the action."

The biggest challenge defenders and spectators say they look forward to each year is the "Team Pain" station. While at that station, participants must complete a series of challenges as a team. A couple of those challenges include flipping a tractor-trailer tire and team push-up.

After all fire teams have completed the Crow Creek Challenge course, the day ends with a combat dining out.

To see a slideshow of pictures click here.