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.