Air Force Defender Challenge showcases skills in tactics, weapons and physical endurance

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Air Force Security Forces competition, known as the Defender Challenge, is made up of ten, four person teams from around the globe.

The competition focuses on the craft and tools of their trade: core operational skills and tactics, teamwork, weapons proficiency and physical endurance.

"As time goes by, tactics and techniques change, so this is an opportunity to basically showcase some of the newer techniques that we've learned throughout the years," Air Force Master Sergeant Carlos Ramos, Expeditionary Training Manager said.

This biennial competition was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic but these Airmen used the extra time to fine tune their skills.

"It it gave us some time to rethink some of our tactics so this is an opportunity for us to put those to the test and see how they function in a competition environment," Ramos added.

Security Forces member Airman Joshua Elcock and his team spent the last month training hard for this event.

"I know they're pumped," Elcock said. "They're ready to finish at the top and they just been working, rucking, land navigation, shooting, whatever they needed to get to this point."

Each team member must try out for a chance to compete. Only the most exceptional are selected.

"We literally go fish for the best of the best to represent for the bragging rights for security forces, just go out there and who holds the title this year?" Chief Master Sergeant Donnie Gallagher, Security Forces Career Field Manager, said.

"We are the first line of defense, so we need to be ready, we need to be challenged, and we need to make sure we're trained and ready to do the mission," Colonel Phillip Born, Commander of the Security Forces Center said.

At the end of the challenge, the team with the most points wins top honors and the pride of earning the Sadler trophy.