Battle Creek Airman Hand Selected for Prestigious Air National Guard Defender Challenge Team

Photo By Senior Airman Ryan Bishop | The National Guard Bureau (NGB) selected Master Sgt. Christopher Reed of the 110th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) to represent the Air National Guard in the 2023 U.S. Air Force Defender Challenge. The Defender Challenge is a competition in which teams of U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen, from all over the world, test their abilities in physical feats, as well as their knowledge and weapon skills.  

BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES

09.20.2023

Story by Senior Airman Ryan Bishop 

110th Wing

BATTLE CREEK AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. – The National Guard Bureau (NGB) selected Master Sgt. Christopher Reed of the 110th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) to represent the Air National Guard in the 2023 U.S. Air Force Defender Challenge. The Defender Challenge is a competition in which teams of U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen, from all over the world, test their abilities in physical feats, as well as their knowledge and weapon skills.

The NGB considers an applicant's letter of intent, job history, experience, weapons qualifications, and physical fitness test scores for selection. Applications also require endorsement from the individual's commander. While event details are not disclosed before the competition, past iterations include: five-mile runs while wearing 40-pound rucksacks, performing high-intensity physical exercises, and conducting live-fire exercise, from distances up to 300 meters. These timed events test the team's combat agility under physical stress and exhaustion.

Master Sgt.. Reed was previously selected for the Defender Challenge in 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the competition to be cancelled. When he heard of the reoccurrence of the competition, Reed jumped at the opportunity to apply again. On July 13, 2023, he was notified that he and four other airmen, one of them being an alternate, were selected to compete. Master Sgt.. Dedrick Baublitz and Tech. Sgt.. Francis Gelda from the 103 SFS, Staff Sgt. Benjamin O'Neal from the 118 SFS and Staff Sgt. David Foster from the 138 SFS will be competing alongside of Reed. Reed highlighted that each of his teammates are just as motivated and prepared as he is, and he looks forward to training and competing with them.

Reed takes his physical training seriously, even when not preparing for a competition like the Defender Challenge.

"I pride myself in always being ready for the fight," said Reed. "But I will say that, after the notification of my selection on July 13th, the intensity of my training regimen certainly increased."

He also had the opportunity to train with his teammates in August 2023 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., during a prep course for the competition. Since then, he has kept communication with his team as they continue to adhere to strict training tasks in preparation of the event. These tasks include activities such as: 500 push-ups, one mile of lunges, and 100 dry-fire drills with their M4 rifle and M18 handgun.

Master Sgt. Reed is grateful for the support from his command and is excited to show what his team can accomplish. He hopes to inspire younger Airmen to seek similar opportunities to improve themselves.

The Defender Challenge will take place Oct. 23-27, 2023 at Fort Bliss, Texas.

• Date Taken: 09.20.2023
• Date Posted: 09.20.2023 14:37
• Story ID: 453897
• Location: BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, US