JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Security Forces Airmen from across Air Education and Training Command have begun tryouts here in hopes of earning a spot on the command’s Defender Challenge team.
The five-day selection camp runs from Jan. 27-31 and includes a physical fitness test, M-9 and M-4 weapons firing, the alpha warrior obstacle course, a ruck march and also includes a military working dog tryout as well.
“Defender Challenge is important because it starts with our heritage, it’s our history and legacy,” said Col. Leonard Rose, AETC Chief of Security Forces. “It’s also important because we learn from these competitions that we may not have learned with our day to day operations and training, such as technology or tactics we may only use at night, like utilizing night vision goggles.
A total of 27 Airmen, including five MWD handlers and their canine partners, were invited to tryout for the team.
Rose also noted the opportunity for the staff to bring back lessons learned during the competition to Airmen out in the field and help ensure proficiency before they potentially deploy.
The seven selectees to the AETC team will represent the First Command at the career field’s world-wide competition that will be held at JBSA-Camp Bullis in May 2020.