Security forces members and firefighters from across Joint
Base San Antonio competed against each other once again during the fifth annual
JBSA Battle of the Badges Sept. 12 at the JBSA-Randolph Camp Talon Fire
Training Area and Eberle Park.
Members from the 802nd Security Forces Squadron from
JBSA-Lackland, 902nd SFS from JBSA-Randolph and firefighters from JBSA Fire
Emergency Services took part in various tests of strength, teamwork and
professional expertise during the event.
“The Battle of the Badges event is important for both the
firefighters and defenders because we work full time throughout the year for
everybody and anybody,” Tech. Sgt. William Everett, 502nd Civil Engineer
Squadron firefighter, said. “We are the ones that go out to protect and to
serve no matter what, so it’s great for our members to come out, relax, have
some fun and work together with their fellow first responder units.”
This year’s Battle of the Badges was comprised of three main
events for time: a tactical shooting challenge, a firefighter combat challenge
and a fire truck pull. The tactical shooting challenge consisted of security
forces defenders and firefighters vying for the title of best marksmen for a
specific target. The firefighter combat challenge tested members of both
parties with an obstacle course that included carrying gear up three flights of
stairs, hoisting a bundle of hose from the ground with a rope, dragging a
weighted dummy and hitting a target with a charged fire hose.
“Today we gather for friendly competition,” Maj. Julia
Jefferson, 902nd Security Forces Squadron commander, said. “We gather to build
the camaraderie, spirit de corps and cohesion that we have as first
responders.”
In addition to the traditional challenges, this year’s event
opened with a softball game Sept. 11, and gave both defenders and firefighters
the opportunity to showcase parts of their missions with repelling, military
working dog and Taser demonstrations.
The families and friends of security forces members and
firefighters also attended the event to learn about some of the first responder
missions performed around JBSA on a daily basis, to cheer on competitors and
meet with Sparky the fire dog and McGruff the crime dog.
“What we do as first responders is a critical mission, and
it’s important for our family members to understand that mission and be able to
support us,” Jefferson said. “That support and love empowers and fuels us to
perform our mission as well as possible.”
The firefighters won all three main challenges for time,
taking back the trophy lost during last year’s security forces’ victory and
becoming the 2015 Battle of the Badges champions.