9/24/2012 - Security Forces Airmen grapple for control during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another.The course, taught by 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructors, brought together security forces Airmen from McConnell AFB, Kansas and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., to learn how to protect aircraft and handle a potential hostile situation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Airman 1st Class Brandon Smith, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, forces his opponent to submit during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. Smith went on to win the competition, never losing a match. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Staff Sgt. Jackie Mendenhall tries to put Airman 1st Class Morgan Mayes, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, into an “arm bar” hold during their “King of the Mat” match at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another as part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Security Forces Airmen practice combative techniques as part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. Although not part of the standard course, GCTS provided the specialized training to those Airmen who required it base on their deployed mission. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Security Forces Airmen grapple for control during a “King of the Mat” competition training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another as part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Airman 1st Class Oscar Gomez-Villatoro, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, puts his opponent in a choke hold during the “King of the Mat” competition at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

9/24/2012 - Senior Airmen Jonathan Hogg and Brian Demolsey, of the 319th Security Forces Squadron, grapple for control during their “King of the Mat” at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 17. The competition is part of their “Brave Defender” deployment training. The Airmen take the skills and techniques learned during their combatives course and put them into practice against one another. The training is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. More than 1,400 Airmen from across the Air Force attend the three-week courses each year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)