JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
Senior Airman Wes Shultz, 11th Security Support Squadron military working dog handler, and MWD Sasha, participate in a ruck-march as part of the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. Shultz, along with other defenders, performed drills, exercises and displayed weapon knowledge for an opportunity to represent the Air Force District of Washington in the DC2020 at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
Lt. Col. David Herndon, 11th Security Support Squadron commander, gives a brief to defenders prior to the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. The defenders competed to represent the Air Force District of Washington in the DC2020 at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
1st Lt. Austin Drake, 11th Security Support Squadron operations officer, leads the ruck-march portion of Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. Drake, along with other JBA defenders, competed for the right to represent the Air Force District of Washington at DC2020 at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
A security forces Airman writes down final scores and times for the physical fitness portion of the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. Defenders fought to get one of the seven positions on the team going to Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas, to represent Air Force District of Washington in the Defender Challenge 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
11th Wing Security Forces Group Airmen participate in the ruck-march during the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. JBA defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
Joint Base Andrews security forces Airmen perform push-ups during the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at JBA, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. JBA defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. The challenge will give the Air Force and partnering allies such as the Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force a way to showcase their military police capabilities and joint interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
11th Security Forces Group defenders inspect a target during the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. Defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
Staff Sgt. Matthew Ratchford, 11th Security Support Squadron military working dog handler, fires an M4 carbine as part of the Defender Challenge 2020 on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. JBA defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. The challenge will focuson the capability, lethality and readiness of each team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
Staff Sgt. Don Hawk, 11th Security Support Squadron resource protection manager, loads an M4 carbine magazine as part of the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. JBA defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. The challenge will give the Air Force and partnering allies such as the Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force a way to showcase their military police capabilities and joint interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
11th Security Forces Group Airmen load their magazines as part of the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts on Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. JBA defenders competed for an opportunity to represent Air Force District of Washington team in the DC2020 in Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
JBA hosts DC2020 tryouts
11th Wing Security Forces Group Airmen run a timed two-mile run during the Defender Challenge 2020 tryouts at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 27, 2020. The defenders competed for the opportunity to represent the Air Force District of Washington in DC2020 at Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas. The challenge will give the Air Force and partnering allies such as the Royal Air Force, the German Luftwaffe, the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force a way to showcase their military police capabilities and joint interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Walck)
By Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum / Published March 5, 2020
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md.,
Joint Base Andrews held the final day of tryouts here to select a team to participate in the Defender Challenge 2020, Feb. 28, 2020.
Defenders from throughout the 11th Security Forces Group competed for a chance to fill one of four slots on an official Air Force District of Washington team.
“I think events like this brings us together,” said Senior Airman Ahmad Richardson, 11th Security Forces Squadron security forces response force leader. “A lot of us work different shifts, and this allowed us to do something together for a change.”
The tryouts for the challenge consisted of a weapons challenge, ruck march and a physical endurance test.
“The purpose of [the tryouts] is to identify the most physically fit, talented and skilled defenders that we have,” said 1st Lt. Austin Drake, 11th Security Support Squadron operations officer.
Defender Challenge participation is limited to twice in a career, so defenders only have two opportunities to show their capabilities.
“Anybody can do it,” Richardson said. “But the question you have to ask yourself is ‘are you willing to put in the work?’ I’m one of those people who says ‘I might as well try it’. I really encourage any defenders who haven’t given it a shot to try next year.”
The winners will be sent to Camp Bullis, Texas, to represent AFDW in the challenge.
