Lt. Col. Stamatis Smeltz, 96th Communication Squadron, carries a ladder in an early part of the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Master Sgt. Mike Hager, 33rd Maintenance Squadron, strains to pull the hose back to the line during the First Sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. Sergeant Hager was the first on the course and had the best time among the shirts with four minutes 23 seconds. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maj. Mike Borders, 96th Security Forces Squadron, lifts the 125-pound dummy during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. Major Borders had the overall best time, completing the course in four minutes, eight seconds. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maj. David Osterman, 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron, pulls a hose back to the line during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Staff Sgt. Tim Llewellyn, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, brings the hammer down while demonstrating one of the challenges during the during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Maj. David Meissen, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, moves back down the ladder during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Senior Master Sgt. Chris McKinney, 46th Weather Squadron, lifts a fire truck tire during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Senior Airman Eric Kautz, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, wraps up a hose after the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Master Sgt. Chuck Veillon, 33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, throws the fire hose onto his shoulder during the first sergeants vs commanders’ challenge Oct. 7 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The challenge represented the physical training course new Airmen must accomplish to become Air Force firefighters. The course included hose carrying, dragging and pulling, victim carry and climbing 10 steps up a ladder five times and more. The shirts beat the commanders for a second year by a full minute with a combined time of 18 minutes, 11 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)