Pushups, punches and precision: Pre-Raven training heats up

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Phoenix Raven candidates participate in warm up exercises prior to Red Man exercises.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, does pushups with other Phoenix Raven candidates at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. Candidates participate in a three-week Pre-Raven course to prepare for the Phoenix Raven training course at the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

A Phoenix Raven candidate goes through a warm-up before a training exercise.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, warms up prior to the Red Man training exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. The Red Man training is an exercise portion of a three-week-long Pre-Raven course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

The Red Men are instructed in how to participate in the Red Man training exercise.

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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Salvador Calderon III, Phoenix Raven and Pre-Raven course instructor, teaches participants how to be aggressors during the Red Man training at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. Phoenix Ravens supported the Pre-Raven course by instructing participants on combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

A Phoenix Raven candidate listens to instruction prior to a Red Man training exercise.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dayshus White, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, listens to instruction prior to a Red Man training session at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. The Red Man exercise is designed for candidates to test their skills in a real-world scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

The Red Man training exercise being conducted.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dayshus White, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, spars with a Red Man participant during the Pre-Raven course, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. The exercise simulated real world threats, allowing Airmen to sharpen their hand-to-hand combat skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

A Red Man training exercise being conducted.

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250411-F-KQ059-1084

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dayshus White, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, spars with a Red Man participant during the Pre-Raven course, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. The three-week long Pre-Raven course prepares candidates to succeed at the Phoenix Raven training course at the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

A Phoenix Raven candidate listens to feedback he received during a Red Man training exercise.

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250411-F-KQ059-1096

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, receives feedback after a Red Man training exercise at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 11, 2025. The training emphasized threat recognition, defensive tactics and communication, which are skills needed for security forces personnel operating in high-risk areas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Daniel Walderbach)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young and Airman 1st Class Jared George, both protective services specialists assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The course prepares candidates with defensive tactics for the Phoenix Raven qualification. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young and Airman 1st Class Jared George, both protective services specialists assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The course prepares candidates with defensive tactics for the Phoenix Raven qualification. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dayshus White and Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young, both protective services specialists assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The instructors coached candidates through various control and escape techniques to prepare them for the Phoenix Raven qualification. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

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241205-F-CW106-1439

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dayshus White and Senior Airman Larry Ruck-Young, both protective services specialists assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The instructors coached candidates through various control and escape techniques to prepare them for the Phoenix Raven qualification. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Salvador Calderon III, a Phoenix Raven and Pre-Raven course instructor, and Airman 1st Class Jared George, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during a Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The course develops close quarters combat skills that candidates may use while supporting high-risk security missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

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241205-F-CW106-1439

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Salvador Calderon III, a Phoenix Raven and Pre-Raven course instructor, and Airman 1st Class Jared George, a protective services specialist assigned to the 816th Security Forces Squadron, grapple during a Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. The course develops close quarters combat skills that candidates may use while supporting high-risk security missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

Phoenix Raven candidates observe a combatives demonstration during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. Instructors taught defensive techniques to help candidates build the confidence and skills necessary for high-risk missions abroad. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

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250414-F-CW106-1152

Phoenix Raven candidates observe a combatives demonstration during the Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 14, 2025. Instructors taught defensive techniques to help candidates build the confidence and skills necessary for high-risk missions abroad. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gianluca Ciccopiedi)

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –

The Pre-Raven course at Joint Base Andrews is a three-week long course designed to hone the skills of Security Forces Airmen as well as teach them specific skills used by Phoenix Ravens. The Pre-Raven course consisted of practical application of their previously acquired military knowledge, first aid, surveillance and counter-surveillance training, and Red Man exercise as well as combatives. After successfully completing the Pre-Raven course, the candidates will attend the Phoenix Raven training course at the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

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