Last week, 140 airmen participated in the 7th annual ACES Cop Combat Challenge, an event designed for fun but also to test airmen mentally and physically.

The annual event is open to airmen in the 341st Security Forces Squadron and security forces airmen from the 120th Airlift Wing were invited but didn’t participate this year.

Tech. Sgt. Shawn Thacker of the 341st Security Support Squadron was one of the event organizers and said the course was different this year, but included many of the same components designed to mentally and physically stress the airmen.

The teams of five in the event mimic the fire teams security forces operate as in the field, Thacker said. Since the airmen work together on Malmstrom, the event helps with team building, Thacker said.

This year’s event includes stations over a 3-mile course.

Challenges include marksmanship, self-aid buddy care, blind gas-mask crawl, a BearCat push, a litter carry, tire flips, a mud pit and more.

In addition to physical skills, the challenge also includes a box of parts and airmen have to sort through them and properly assemble weapons.

Winning comes down to “who wants it more at the end of the day,” Thacker said.

Winners get their name on a plaque, but more importantly, they get bragging rights for the next year.