A security forces Airman fires blanks from an M249 during the weapons familiarization portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. The 16-day program trains security forces members from various bases across the country for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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Staff Sgt. Daniel Craven, 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.), instructs a member of his patrol to spread out while searching for improvised explosive devices during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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A security forces Airman fires blanks from an M249 under the watchful eye of Staff Sgt. Jarrod Stewart, 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructor, during the weapons familiarization portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. The 16-day program trains security forces members from various bases across the country for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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Airmen from the 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.) recover after encountering their first improvised explosive device during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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A security forces Airman gets help from her instructor with loading blanks into an M249 during the weapons familiarization portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. The 16-day program trains security forces members from various bases across the country for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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Airmen from the 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.) scout the perimeter while searching for improvised explosive devices during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training.UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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Airmen from the 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.) carry an “injured” wingman away from the blast site of an improvised explosive device during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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Staff Sgt. Eric Testerman, 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron instructor, discusses the plan of action with Airmen from the 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.) after they discovered a potential improvised explosive device during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training. The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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A simulated improvised explosive device kills and injures several Airmen from the 316th Security Forces Squadron (Andrews AFB, Washington D.C.) during the Counter-IED portion of Brave Defenders training April 22. The team was the first to experience Counter-IED, the newest addition to the training. UPDATE: The defender class graduated 144 security forces members from 21 bases May 3. This is the first class to graduate since the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron began using their new facility. At the graduation, two GCTS members were given their instructor tabs, becoming certified instructors. Brave Defenders is a 16-day program training security forces members from various bases across the country in preparation for deployment to combat zones. The course opened here in 2002 and was established by Air Force Materiel Command to satisfy security forces training requirements in an expeditionary environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings)

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"Brave Defenders" hone skills before deployment (UPDATE)

Published April 28, 2010