2 SFS sets sights for GSC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Micaiah Anthony
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
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."