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News

Buckley celebrates its birthday with Fun Fest

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Team Buckley celebrated the 460th Space Wing's eighth birthday Aug. 17 with Fun Fest, a base-wide event that included friendly competition, community involvement and local business sponsors.

"Fun Fest is good for the command because it's a chance for the base to get together and an opportunity give back to the families," said Col. Tracy Hayes, 460th Space Wing vice commander. "We want to let them know how much we appreciate all their dedication and hard work."

Of the events hosted, the team paintball competition filled up registration first. Teams of five players squared off against each other and battled it out for bragging rights in a best of three capture-the-flag match. When the paint stopped flying, the Space Based Infrared Systems team emerged victorious.

Other popular sport competitions at Fun Fest were sand volleyball, dodge ball and ultimate frisbee. In the shifting sands, the SBIRS team spiked their way to victory. On the gym floor, the Detachment 6 team was crowned dodge ball champions. Finally, at the football field, 460th Space Communication Squadron rose above the competition to claim ultimate victory.

In addition to those competitions, other events included racquetball, giant ball, tug of war, a 10K bike race, big glove bouncing boxing and a 1.5 mile walk. However, sports were not the only major events planned for the day.

That afternoon Buckley held its community fair complete with carnival-like attractions and tents set up to spotlight the units on base. One unit that received numerous visitors was the 460th Security Forces Squadron, displaying the combat arms training and maintenance section's weapons and deployment equipment.

"I think it's very important the community gets see what we do so that they're not stuck in the dark when it comes to what the military does," said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Overman, the NCO in charge of training for the 460th Security Forces Squadron. "I strongly believe that community relations are very important."

Among the visitors to the tent were some of Team Buckley's littlest members. Many children were very excited to handle the gear and weapons under the watchful eyes of security forces Airman.

"They love it. They come over and put on all the gear and we let them hold the weapons," explained Overman. "They're kind of hesitant at first, but once they get in there, they definitely like it."

Approximately 480 Team Buckley members participated in the competitions during the morning, while many more families attended the community fair that afternoon.

 

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