HomeNewsArticle Display


Redirecting...

42nd SFS celebrates National Police Week

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Gregory Brook
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The Airmen of 42nd Security Forces Squadron commemorated their fallen brothers and sisters during the 2014 National Police Week on Maxwell, May 12-16.

President John F. Kennedy first proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. Nearly one million peace officers selflessly serve their communities nationwide, and today more than 26,000 U.S. Air Force Security Forces members serve the country at home and abroad.

The weeklong celebration of the security forces and police mission featured a sports day, a ruck march, an obstacle course challenge and a barbecue. The SFS Airmen held a retreat ceremony to close out the week to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Every day, these brave men and women put on their uniforms and place themselves in harm's way," said Maj. Benjamin Jacobson, 42nd Security Forces Squadron commander. "Their daily job is to protect our communities, our lives, our property and our nation. When things go wrong, and others are escaping the area or searching for cover and concealment, you will find your security forces running toward the sound of gunfire."

The week's events were designed to strengthen morale and build esprit de corps among the SFS members while demonstrating and educating the base population on their mission.

The sports day featured a "battle of the badges," a tradition involving friendly competition between the base firefighters and security forces troops.

The ruck march took participants from various different units around the base, on foot, with weighted packs on their backs. It was meant to give the participants a feel for what it was like to carry that much weight in a deployed environment.

The obstacle course challenge allowed participants from many different units on base to push themselves both physically and mentally. The participants were competing for the best time against a variety of obstacles, including assembling a pistol blindfolded and carrying a 180-pound dummy on a medical litter uphill.

The challenge was meant to build teamwork skills among the participants.
"The main reason why it was so successful is because of the Airmen and NCOs in my unit and from the [staff sergeant/technical sergeant] council who sacrificed their off time to help with the setup and with managing the course itself," said Tech. Sgt. Derryn Beasly, 42nd Security Forces Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of training. "I really enjoyed watching the people work as a team during the course. It is a way to have a good time with each other, but also a time to remember our brothers and sisters in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty."

The week ended with a formal retreat ceremony, including a 21-gun salute, a memorial to those who have given their lives in service to the nation.