Defenders sharpen skills, tacts Published July 7, 2026 By Senior Airman Jacob Hessen SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. – A unit training event on June 6 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base served as a practical test of the skills that keep Airmen, civilians and bases safe. During the event, Security Forces Airmen, known as defenders, from the 127th Security Forces Squadron, 127th Wing, Michigan National Guard, were challenged on their marksmanship, physical fitness and teamwork. The outcome of combining weapons proficiency and job knowledge with physical and mental tasks is to sharpen readiness, expose training gaps and reinforce teamwork through healthy competition. “The main purpose of this is camaraderie, building a team,” said Master Sgt. Caitlyn Walker, 127th SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of training. “We wanted to ensure everyone had a good time while being challenged effectively in ways that will truly benefit them moving forward.” Unit leadership’s goal was to pull defenders out of their routine duties and drive them into unexpected, high-stress situations that required quick decision-making. The event began with a one-mile ruck march from the 127 SFS facility to the weapons range, where defenders navigated a mix of paved roads and rough terrain while carrying nearly 50 pounds of combat gear. The march was intended to induce fatigue before testing troops' ability to shoot accurately in an emergency. At the firing range, defenders fired on multiple courses using both a variety of firearms, sometimes even required to shoot with their non-dominant hand. “Security Forces is always ready, we train for the worst outcome to happen and want to be ready for anything,” said Tech. Sgt. Trenton Webster, a defender with the 127th SFS and a unit training manager. The event concluded at the running track, where defenders completed a half-mile run before performing low crawls, buddy carries and a team-based reassembly of a disassembled M249 squad automatic weapon. These challenges tested their physical endurance, weapons knowledge and ability to collaborate under duress. This event pushed defenders to their physical limits while reinforcing pride in mission. Even while exhausted, the Airmen left the field with a clear reminder of why they push themselves so hard. “We’re out here to defend and protect, and we’re going to do a damn good job at that," Webster said.