Security forces squadrons team up for family day challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Samantha Mathison
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  The 610th and 301st Security Forces Squadrons competed in a joint Family Day Challenge here July 11.

This is an annual event normally held for the 610 SFS included a canoe race, tire flip, aid and litter carry, and bat spin. Each team included members from both units to promote esprit de corps and unity.

"The last three years we have been incorporating a challenge into our family day as a fun event to test the physical abilities and teamwork of our defenders," said Master Sgt. James Hettinger, 610 SFS NCO-in-charge of information systems and one of the event coordinators.

The 301 SFS joined and competed in the festivities this year.

"I wanted us to get together and celebrate their accomplishments," said Maj. Rafael Perea, 301 SFS commander. "They [610 SFS] made extraordinary contributions to our nation's warfighting ability and survivability by providing unprecedented quality training. My unit members celebrated alongside their fellow Defenders and it enhanced Security Forces camaraderie.

Since the goal of the challenge is to promote unity, members were grouped into teams for the competition.

"The four-person fire teams are drawn at random to ensure no unfair team building. The teams are timed through four events that physically challenge them and require the use of teamwork; no all-star can do it all," he continued.

The winning team receives bragging rights until the next challenge, and gets their picture hung in the 301 SFS hallway.

"I think it's a great opportunity for us to hang out and have a good time," said Senior Airman Alisa Grissom, a 610 SFS administration specialist who monitored the tire flip challenge. "It's good for us and the 301 SFS to develop a security forces bond. We all go through the same stuff so it's important we have that."

Lt. Col. Keith Goodenough, 610 SFS commander, attended the challenge to watch and support the participating Airmen.

"It's regrettable that the 610 SFS is being inactivated, but it marks a new beginning," he said. "Many of our Airmen are going to the 301 SFS and they will provide invaluable knowledge and experience. Today was about two squadrons coming together to overcome challenges and, in the end, became a team. In my book, they are all winners."