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5th Air Force

18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Acencion Garcia, 18th Security Forces Squadron defender, pushes a humvee to an objective point during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The mentally and physically demanding objectives throughout the nine-mile route tested the defenders on various tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jesiah Moreno and Senior Airman Daniel Bermudez, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, respond to a simulated hostage scenario during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. Teamwork, endurance, strength and job knowledge were tested through scenarios that could be present in compromised environments or combat situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jimmy Quary, left, and Senior Airman Adam Beck,18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, compete in a 50-meter swim during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The event consisted of swimming in uniform,salvaging equipment from the pool floor and pushing a raft filled with 30-pound ruck packs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Patrick Dogyeg, 18th Security Forces Squadron defender, conducts a humvee cross-load during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. Teamwork, endurance, strength and job knowledge were tested through scenarios that could be present in compromised environments or combat situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jasmin Chan and Senior Airman Katelyn Edwards, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, receive coordinates after responding to a simulated hostage scenario during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. Teamwork, endurance, strength and job knowledge were tested through scenarios that could be present in compromised environments or combat situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Yow and Airman Ashley Bounds, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, respond to a simulated hostage scenario during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. Teamwork, endurance, strength and job knowledge were tested through scenarios that could be present in compromised environments or combat situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Airman Ashley Bounds and Staff Sgt. Jeremy Yow, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, push a humvee to an objective point during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The mentally and physically demanding objectives throughout the nine-mile route tested the defenders on various tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Patrick Dogyeg, 18th Security Forces Squadron defender, plots coordinates on a map during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The mentally and physically demanding objectives throughout the nine-mile route tested Airmen on various tactics, techniques, and procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Adam Beck, left, and Senior Airman Jimmy Quary, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, perform a litter carry during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. A litter is a stretcher carried by two to four bearers, and is used to evacuate sick or injured personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jimmy Quary, left, and Senior Airman Adam Beck, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, plot coordinates on a map during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The tasks in the challenge were designed to push Airmen out of their comfort zones, tackling problem sets and obstacles not typically faced during their daily duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. William McCathern and Staff Sgt. Cord Wickander, 18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, respond to a simulated hostage scenario during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The BDC timed event consisted of a nine-mile ruck around the perimeter of the base equipped with a 30-pound pack, with various obstacles and challenges along the way. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. James Wilson, left, and Senior Airman Nikolas Somoza,18th Security Forces Squadron defenders, begin a 50-meter swim during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The tasks in the challenge were designed to push Airmen out of their comfort zones, tackling problem sets and obstacles not typically faced during their daily duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Acencion Garcia, 18th Security Forces Squadron defender, pushes a humvee to an objective point during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The tasks in the challenge were designed to push Airmen out of their comfort zones, tackling problem sets and obstacles not typically faced during their daily duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Airman Ashley Bounds, 18th Security Forces Squadron defender, simulates searching for a UXO during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The BDC timed event consisted of a nine-mile ruck around the perimeter of the base equipped with a 30-pound pack, with various obstacles and challenges along the way. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kyle Hansen,18th Security Forces Squadron defender, helps wingmen compete in a 50-meter swim during the Best Defender Challenge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8, 2023. The event consisted of swimming in uniform,salvaging equipment from the pool floor and pushing a raft filled with 30-pound ruck packs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez)

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18 SFS Airmen battle for glory during Best Defender Challenge

Published Dec. 13, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Melany Bermudez
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

18th Security Forces competed during the Best Defender Challenge on December 8, 2023. The BDC timed event consisted of a nine-mile ruck around the perimeter of the base equipped with a 30-pound pack. The tasks in the challenge were designed to push Airmen out of their comfort zones, tackling problem sets and obstacles not typically faced during their daily duties.