Staff Sgt. James Burton, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, fires an M-203 grenade launcher on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. Burton practiced firing the M-203 in preparation for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. Each wing in the Air Force Global Strike Command sends a team to represent security forces, maintenance, munitions and operations to compete in the challenge. The competition for security forces begins Sept. 24 and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Several 40mm practice round cartridges are scattered throughout the grass after being fired from an M-203 grenade launcher on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron practiced firing a variety of weapons in preparation for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. During the challenge, security forces Airmen will compete in three main categories; tactics, weapons and a mental and physical challenge. The competition is set to begin Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
A 2nd Security Forces Squadron Airman leads his team into a building on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. The Airmen spent the afternoon practicing tactical room clearing for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. Each wing in the Air Force Global Strike Command sends a team to represent security forces, maintenance, munitions and operations to compete in the challenge. The competition for security forces begins Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Senior Airman Jezrell Zimmerman, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, gives directions to a team member while clearing a building on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. The Airmen spent the afternoon practicing tactical room clearing for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. During the challenge, security forces Airmen will compete in three main categories; tactics, weapons and a mental and physical challenge. The competition is set to begin Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Staff Sgt. Aldo Felici, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, prepares to throw a training grenade on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. Airmen from the 2 SFS practiced throwing training grenades and firing weapons in preparation for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. Training grenades have a small amount of explosives in the fuse to simulate the timing in which a grenade would explode. Though the amount of explosives may be small, the grenades can still inflict injuries if handled incorrectly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
1st Lt. Kendall Benton, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, throws a training grenade on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 10. Airmen from the 2 SFS practiced throwing training grenades into a bunker in preparation for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. During the challenge, security forces Airmen will compete in three main categories; tactics, weapons and a mental and physical challenge. The competition is set to begin Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron watch as a fellow 2 SFS Airman fires an M-9 pistol at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. The Airmen spent the morning firing the M-9 at various targets to prepare for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Senior Airman Jezrell Zimmerman, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, performs a squat exercise at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. Zimmerman, along with other 2 SFS Airmen, completed 25 squats and 25 push-ups before firing an M-9 pistol at several targets. Seven 2 SFS Airmen were selected to represent the 2nd Bomb Wing during the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
An Airman from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron aims at a target with an M-9 pistol at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. Airmen from the 2 SFS spent the morning firing the M-9 at various targets to prepare for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Senior Airman Jezrell Zimmerman, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, takes a 9mm round to load into his M-9 pistol at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. Airmen from the 2 SFS spent the morning firing the M-9 at various targets to prepare for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. During the challenge, security forces Airmen will compete in three main categories; tactics, weapons and a mental and physical challenge. The competition is set to begin Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Staff Sgt. Jamie Farmer and Airman 1st Class Cody Rothery, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, shoot at targets with M-9 pistols at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. The Airmen donned their gas masks to participate in a head-to-head shoot off, to prepare them for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. In the head-to-head shoot off the Airmen had to draw their weapon and shoot their target before their opponent. The shooters had to do 10 push-ups for missed targets and another 10 for losing the shoot-off. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron shoot at targets with M-9 pistols and exercise at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. The Airmen donned their gas masks to participate in a head-to-head shoot off to prepare them for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. In the head-to-head shoot off, the Airmen had to draw their weapon and shoot their target before their opponent. The shooters had to do 10 push-ups for missed targets and another 10 for losing the shoot-off. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
An Airman from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron jogs in place during a head-to-head shoot off at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. The Airmen donned their gas masks and competed against each other to see who could shoot their target the fastest. The loser had to do 10 push-ups, and if the shooter missed the target they had to complete an additional 10 push-ups. After the Airmen shot or exercised, they returned to the shooting line and jogged in place to keep their heart rate up. The Airmen did this drill to help them prepare for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
A bullet disintegrates after hitting its target at the Bossier Parish Sheriff?s Office pistol range in Plain Dealing, La., Sept. 11. Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron practiced firing the M-9 pistol in preparation for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge. Seven Airmen were selected to represent the 2 SFS team. During the challenge, security forces Airmen will compete in three main categories; tactics, weapons and a mental and physical challenge. The competition is set to begin Sept. 24, and will be held at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony)(RELEASED)
by Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
9/14/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Airmen from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron have been preparing for the 2012 annual Global Strike Challenge over the last few weeks.
The best security forces Airmen from missile and bomb wings across Air Force Global Strike Command, along with three additional teams outside of the command, will be traveling to Camp Guernsey, Wyo., Sept. 24-28 to compete in this year's challenge.
During the competition, security forces Airmen will be tested in three main categories; tactics, firing and a mental and physical challenge.
"The tactics portion can be anything from basic room clearing to securing a strategic resource," said 1st Lt. Kendall Benton, 2 SFS assistant operations officer. "The firing portion consists of all the weapon systems we are familiar with such as the M-203 grenade launcher, 240-B machine gun, M-4 combat rifle and the M-9 pistol. The mental and physical challenge can be anything up to a 10 kilometer course determined by the runners of the competition."
Six Airmen and one alternate are allowed to compete from each wing. These Airmen are selected based on excellence and performance.
"Team composition is usually created by choosing the most stellar Airmen," said Benton. "The Airmen who go above and beyond what they are called to do and don't have any negative paper work are selected. Then we have tryouts where we put them through mental and physical challenges to see how they would handle the stress of the competition and see who our best shooters are."
This year, the 2 SFS team will be focusing on the shooting portion along with other factors to prepare for the Global Strike Challenge.
"We run them through exercises and land navigation but we have really been concentrating on firing this year," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Hillman, 2 SFS combat arms instructor. "In previous years, the teams that walked away with the trophies shot very well, so we've been focusing on the firing portion."
Hillman, a seasoned competitive shooter, helps the Airmen with their mental focus by raising the tempo during training sessions.
"We don't just let them get out there and pull the trigger," he said. "We put them under stressful conditions and then let them shoot."
The 2 SFS team is working with off base agencies such as the Bossier City Police Department to help them prepare for the challenge, said Benton. At the range they practice their technique and shoot in similar conditions that they may face during the challenge.
"The way your arms are able to come around your body to hold the weapon changes when you have to wear a vest," he said. "The way you have to run changes when you have the additional weight of all your equipment. To do this without any gear would be combat ineffective."
The Global Strike Challenge is more than a competition; it encourages Airmen to work hard and improve their day-to-day skills, said Benton.
"When it comes to law enforcement or security scenarios, a lot of the techniques we use during the Global Strike Challenge are the same techniques we would use in the line-of-duty," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to hone our skills."
The techniques and skills the Airmen learn during the competition and training are going to stick with them for the rest of their careers, said Hillman.
With the Security Forces Global Strike Challenge coming up at the end of the month, the Airmen from the 2 SFS are ready and confident.
"I'm very confident in our team," said Benton. "We've spent a lot of time on the range and have improved and learned a lot. I think we will do great."
