JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- A six-member Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Security Forces team is training for the upcoming Pacific Air Forces Advanced Combat Skills Assessment hosted in Guam, Sept. 25 to 29, 2016.
The challenge incorporates mental and physical competitions as well as tactics, weapons, the Marine Corps combat fitness test and a military working dog portion, said Senior Master Sgt. Eric Hall, 673d Security Forces Squadron superintendent. Teams from all throughout PACAF will vie for the title.
Hall is responsible for preparing and training the JBER team starting a month prior to the challenge.
“We only have 30 days to train and cannot train outside of that window,” Hall said. “Our training varies from day to day and can involve anything from firing at the range to running hills at Arctic Valley to any sort of physical-fitness training.”
Team members were chosen in the end of June after an open tryout was held for Air Force security forces and Army military police personnel. The tryout involved a variety of fitness factors and firing qualifications with multiple weapons, after which the top individuals’ scores were calculated and the team members were chosen.
The team consists of Tech. Sgt. Barry Fairbanks, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Heffley, Air Force Staff Sgt. Zachary Fredrick, Senior Airman Christopher Bonham, and Airman 1st Class Paige Goodrich, all assigned to the 673d SFS, and Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Mobley, assigned to the 545th Military Police Detachment, 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, U.S. Army Alaska.
Hall explained the teamwork and motivation shown by each member is one of their biggest strengths against their competition.
“I really love team-building things like this and anything that’s challenging,” Fairbanks said. “It keeps me young and I like to see how far I can push myself.”
As a group, everyone brings something different to the team, he continued. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
“We have our sharp shooters, the people who can do some crazy fitness stuff, and those who bring leadership skills and knowledge about the things to expect in Guam,” Fairbanks said.
Winning as a joint team would be a great accomplishment and bring a great sense of pride to JBER, Hall said.
“I’m already proud of them and all their accomplishments so far,” Hall continued. “They’ve worked really hard and continue to do so each day.”
Following the group’s run up the mountains of Arctic Valley, Fairbanks explained his passion for the team through his sweat and fatigue.
“We have a great group who never quits,” Fairbanks said. “We’re pushing it to the limit every day.”