Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
In their first-ever civilian competition, five Airmen from the 37th Training Wing's Emergency Services Team returned from the Southeast Texas SWAT competition in Beaumont, bringing with them top honors.
"I was surprised at how well we did against the full-time (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams, especially in relation to our training opportunities," 1st Lt. Matt Addington said. "I am really proud that not only were we able to hang in there, but we brought home first place."
Senior Master Sgt. Mathew Harmatuk, Tech. Sgt. Justin King and Senior Airman Andrew Caro, all from the 37th Security Forces Squadron; Lieutenant Addington, the Basic Combat Convoy Course commander; and Tech. Sgt. Jason Attinger, a pararescue instructor, represented the Air Force during the five-event competition in late April.
Lieutenant Addington and Sergeant Attinger finished the Super SWAT-2 X-Treme, an endurance and shooting course, in seven minutes, 16 seconds, nearly a minute faster than the second-place team.
"That was the most challenging event for me," said the lieutenant, who joined the 24-man team in January. "You're shooting while you're fatigued. It's difficult to get target acquisition when you're breathing heavy and exhausted."
Sergeant Attinger agrees.
"The Super SWAT was physically exhausting. You have to find a common ground. Do you push yourself 100 percent? Ninety percent? If you push too hard, you get to the shooting station and have nothing left."
In the hostage-rescue event, Sergeant Harmatuk, Lieutenant Addington, Sergeant Attinger, Sergeant King and Airman Caro won first place.
Sergeant Harmatuk, Lieutenant Addington, Sergeant Attinger, Sergeant King and Airman Caro took second place in the obstacle course, finishing seconds behind the first-place team and minutes ahead of the third-place team.
Team members also participated in the sniper initiated assault and the sniper challenge.
"This was a great opportunity to actually test our skills under high-pressure conditions," Sergeant King said. "Plus we were able to learn from other teams by competing with them and observing their techniques."
The team will compete in the state competition in Nacogdochges in September.
The wing's EST is one of the few, if not the only, EST that incorporates Air Force Specialty Codes outside of security forces, according to Sergeant King. Currently the team has Airmen from career fields such as pararescue, the Office of Special Investigations, explosive ordnance disposal, BC3 and technical school instructors.
Tryouts for the team are conducted as needed, averaging three to four times a year. Officers must be from security forces. Enlisted applicants may be from outside security forces AFSCs but must have a specific skill set. Team members retain their normal duties but must make time to train with the team.