100th SFS Defenders accept challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Twenty-four 100th Security Forces Squadron Airmen competed in the Defender Challenge around Perimeter Road May 16.

The challenge was part of National Police Week 2012, which runs May 13 through 19.

"The Defender Challenge is a part of Police Week and is (designated) to honor the fallen and those who have come before us," said Tech. Sgt. Michael Crawford, 100th SFS assistant flight chief. "As security forces, a big part of what we do is law enforcement, so we brought together an event to remember those and work (out) in their memory."

The Defender Challenge consisted of six four-man teams from 100th SFS Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Flights and a combined team from all flights. There were seven different challenges, designed to promote the mental and physical endurance of each participant.

"As cops, we are put in bad situations, where we can't give up," said Staff Sgt. David Mansfield, 100th SFS and the event coordinator. "You don't know what you can accomplish until you try."

The challenge began at the pull-up bars at the base outdoor running track. There, teams performed as many "body blasters" as they could within a 5-minute time limit. The body blasters included a pull-up, hanging knee-up and push-up.

At each station, the amount of completions or the time it took to complete the challenge, was recorded and assigned scores up to six points.

The teams then ran Perimeter Road and headed towards the next station at the south side of base. For this challenge, the team donned gas masks and performed a bear crawl, down and back, for 100 yards.

Upon completion of the bear crawl, teams made their way to the softball fields. There, they had to flip a Humvee tire down the field for 100 yards before making their way to the next station, where two members from each team had to break down and reassemble an M-4 rifle blindfolded. Their only assistance was from the other two teammates serving as eyes.

After successfully clearing the weapon, the Defenders made their way to the next challenge across from the base concrete mixing plant, for a Humvee pull. Teammates took turns pulling the Humvee with cargo straps attached to their bodies.

The security forces Airmen followed the road to the lawn outside the base fire department, where the "Team Pain" challenge awaited them. At this challenge, the Defenders had 15 minutes to complete as many repetitions as they could of 100-yard buddy carriers. After each carry, teams had to hoist a 200-pound log onto their shoulders and carry it back to the starting point then do five team push-ups to complete one repetition.

After the 15 minutes elapsed, teams ran to the final station of the competition, the dummy pull and litter carry. Each Airman pulled a dummy 100 yards and did a litter carry back before making their way to the track to complete the Defender Challenge.

"The event was grueling and pretty tough," said Crawford. "This was the most strenuous obstacle course I've ever done, but it's a good team building exercise, and it brings out the camaraderie and espirit de corps."

To prepare for the challenge, Crawford's teammate, Airman Nicholas Lensky, 100th SFS, said his flight, Alpha Flight, trained together.

"Since early March, we've done ruck marches and runs around the perimeter of the base," said Lensky. "During our physical training, we did more team challenges."

Lensky explained that the team challenges helped developed the Defenders' mentality of being only as strong as their weakest person.

Team 6, made up of Airmen from each flight, won the challenge with a final score of 47 points out of a possible 54 points. 

Editor's note: view more photos of this event at www.facebook.com/RAFMildenhall