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Wingmanship evident at Guardian Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Don Branum
  • 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  Victory matters to the 50th Security Forces Squadron's Guardian Challenge team -- a fact they proved Aug. 16 on a scorching obstacle course run.

But when one of their own injured himself on the course, the team showed that wingmanship matters to them even more. 

As Staff Sgt. Scott Willis dismounted from one of the obstacles on the course he heard his ankle pop. He pressed on, but couldn't keep pace with his teammates. 

That's when Tech. Sgt. Brian Johnson and Airmen 1st Class Devin Stapelman and David Simmonds turned around to keep pace with him. 

"Sergeant Johnson said we needed to finish as a team," Airman Stapelman said. "We worked together to get this far." 

Throughout the last leg of the course, a grueling one-mile run through soft dirt on an obstacle course 6,000 feet above sea level, the 50th SFS team stayed at Sergeant Willis' side. 

"They carried me through the last couple of turns," Sergeant Willis said. "Then I just ran in (the last stretch)." 

"He stuck it out," Airman Stapelman said. "He had the heart and energy to push through and get the job done."