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Show 12 Aug. 12, 1993 Hilltop Times Challenge teaches peacekeepers to pull together by TSgt. Stefanie Doner AFMC News Service editor 66 standing in the middle of a grassy D'm squinting against the bright early sun as I try to find the best camera angle without getting trampled by runners in combat, boots. This is my first time at a command-leve- l competition and it has shown me much more than 13 security police teams vying for the title "Best of the Best." On the first day of Peacekeeper Challenge '93 I watched as 13 men ran a grueling obstacle course. In addition to being grateful that I wouldn't have to tackle those torture The biggest challenge to overcome isn't the physical obstacles or the scenarios. It's denying yourself and putting all your efforts into the success of the team. Once you have unity, there's nothing you can't do. devices myself, I was deeply impressed by the fierce determination with which these men approached the event. ; Despite a dry heat in the high 90s that seemed to suck all the moisture out of your ? body, and an altitude unfamiliar to most of the competitors, these people didn't quit. They pushed themselves to the limit and beyond to finish the course in the best possible time. It wasn't just an individual thing, either. Each man running the course represented his team and, by extension, his base. Heat, thinner air and fatigue were not about to stop them. It's amazing what a person can accomplish when willing to stretch the boundaries of his own limitations. But it wasn't just the 13 men working through the obstacle course who impressed me. The spectators and other competitors 99 Maj. Gary D. Lee Security police commander, Edwards AFB, Calif. watching from the sidelines garnered my admiration as well. As the 13 progressed through the course, they heard words of encouragement shouted by their teammates and spectators. What I admired most was that it didn't seem to matter which team they were on. If a runner faltered or lost momentum, those on the sidelines shouted out their support whether it was their teammate or not. In those moments, everyone was on one team that encompassed them all under one banner, regardless of team affiliation. And it worked. As the crowd shouted support, the runners gained new strength and pressed on. mmsm (mm mm am !3mm w P mim We can all learn a lesson from this that has little to do with Peacekeeper Challenge. I ask myself, why can't we employ those same traits teamwork, sportsmanship and on a daily basis? After all, camaraderie aren't we on the same team? CMSgt. Rich Fraysier, competing for Robins AFB, Ga., said, a team is only as fast as its slowest runner. That's true in the everyday world as well. We in the Air Force are all civilian, active duty or Reserve working toward the same goals: preserving the safety and security of our nation by making sure our customers have what they need to get their jobs done. To succeed, we can't have an "us vs. them" attitude. We can't afford to view our work in terms of what it means to us as individuals. "The biggest challenge to overcome isn't the physical obstacles or the scenarios," said Maj. Gary D. Lee, security police commander, Edwards AFB, Calif. "It's denying yourself and putting all your efforts into the success of the team. Once you have unity, there's nothing you can't do." That philosophy can work for the rest of us, too. All we need to do is remember that we are one team striving to meet a common goal. If one of us fails to remember this and works toward fulfilling personal goals at the expense of the team, we all lose. But, if we watch out for our slowest runners and help them keep up and contribute to the whole, we all win. 4, O. c " Ron A. Frost DMD COMPLETE FAMILY DENTISTRY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COSMETIC BONDING NITROUS OXIDE AVAILABLE INSURANCE PLANS WELCOME CALL NEW PATIENTS WELCOME TOR APPOINTMENT 1868 No. 400 West 774-819- Do you ever wonder if someone's watching over you? ii LAYTON 0 Hid Field Road COOLER CLOSE-OU- T SALE SAVE ON ALL SIZES ALL WORK GUARANTEED. EXPERT INSTALLATIONS LEGS ON ALL JOBS 111 FINANCING AVAILABLE FRIGIKING ..4 .y CMVERSIL "HEABTANDSOTLS" """"i FOlX GREGORY PICTURES XABC SHADLVS HANSENlERIK presents WML SMPEDE ENTOAMENT mm .J5DIRK PREMISS HANSEN and BRENT EmRSB.wGRE(MlSEJi JtlDOOdi iSilTLSOX "J BRENT MADDOfl E S- UNDERWOOD -S ru ALBEBT iSBTLSON wn GREGORY D JAMES JAfKS i M mwi MIniMtinIMM Opens Friday, August 13th At a Theatre Near You 520 SO. STATE CLEARFIELD 773-4836292-1- 636 COOLERS 1 |