460th Space Wing hosts first-ever Panther Challenge

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson
  • 460th Space Wing Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  The 460th Space Wing hosted the first-ever Panther Challenge, a competition testing operational performance and crew knowledge, throughout October.

"Panther Challenge was held in the spirit of Guardian Challenge, a historical biannual, two-week Air Force Space Command competition amongst its wings testing the different mission area of the command," according to Schriever Air Force Base.

Five 2nd SWS crews competed against crews from 8th SWS, 11th SWS and the 460th Operations Group Detachment 1.

"The 460th OG team recognized the importance of Guardian Challenge from our past as a way to hone our warfighting skills," said Col. DeAnna Burt, 460th OG commander. "Nothing gets people motivated like a good old fashioned competition."

Each crew started their challenge with a closed-book test followed by hands-on scenarios that challenged the crews on operational performance.

"The scenarios are devised to test the crews and put them under a stressful situation. A lot of the scenarios do not happen every day, but they are not outside of the realm of possibility," said Capt. Jeffrey Fulton, 2nd SWS deputy chief of standardization and evaluation.

The space warning squadrons are multinational forces that perform the operations and maintenance of the $16 billion Space-Based Infrared System. Their mission is to provide superior space-based surveillance to support strategic, operational, and tactical decision-makers of U.S. and allied forces worldwide.

The winners of the Panther Challenge will be announced Oct. 24, by Col. Dan Wright, 460th SW commander, following the commander's call.

"It is essentially a competition but more over it's a unique experience that enhances the esprit de corps, camaraderie and overall crew knowledge," said Fulton.

 

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