On target

A technical sergeant watches and waits for word from his scouting team during an ‘outside the wire’ exercise April 28 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. The goal for their exercise was to use land navigation techniques to find a weapons cache based on the intelligence they were given. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

HVT

Maj. Justin Oldt, 99th Mission Support Group, asks a suspect about a high value target his squad has been looking for during an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Shadow Airmen

Security Forces Airmen watch as others move toward a building during a raid on a village as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Based on intelligence gathered, two squads entered the village in search of a high value target. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Up and over

Airmen go through a window to gain entry into a building during a raid on a village as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Based on intelligence gathered, two squads entered the village in search of a high value target. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

HVT

Senior Airman Benjamin Thompson, 375th Security Forces Squadron, watches the interrogation of suspects during a vehicle stop as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Buddy care

Airmen drag their “wounded” teammate to safety after she was hit in a firefight during a raid on a village as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Based on intelligence gathered, two squads entered the village in search of a high value target. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

The stare

Senior Airman Bobby Mullinnix, 82nd Security Forces Squadron, watches a suspicious vehicle during a “mounted” patrol mission April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. Teams of Airmen experienced both mounted (vehicle) and dismounted (foot) patrols through the forests and simulated villages around their base. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Game plan

Tech. Sgt. Jaime Correa, 17th Security Forces Squadron, briefs his squad on the plan to assault a village after an attack on their base April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Based on intelligence gathered, two squads entered the village in search of a high value target. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. Sergeant Correa won the Lt. Joseph Helton Leadership Award the following day at graduation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Attack!

A security forces Airman moves to a better position as enemy forces enter the base as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Burst

Tech. Sgt. Paul Rubusch returns fire as “simulated” enemies storm the base and move closer to the command center as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

In the weeds

A security forces Airman moves through thick brush during a patrol after a “simulated” attack on their base as part of an exercise April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Surpressing fire

Senior Airman Benjamin Thompson, 375th Security Forces Squadron, opens fire as he moves away from the building during a raid exercise on a village April 29 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Based on intelligence gathered, two squads entered the village in search of a high value target. This was part of Air Force Materiel Command’s "Brave Defender" training, which is administered by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron. GCTS instructors push 10 training classes a year, which consists of improvised explosive device detection and reaction, operating in an urban environment, mission planning, land navigation and casualty care. The three-week training culminates with a three-day field training exercise where the Airmen apply what they learned in combat scenarios. More than 140 Airmen from more than 10 locations attended this training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)