News>Offutt Defenders celebrate National Police Week
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Christopher Whitton, 55th Security Forces Squadron, sprints through water as he makes his way through an "Evasion Challenge" put on by 55th SFS as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Jenkins and his team faced several obstacles in the challenge testing participants both physically and mentally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Kenneth Jenkins, 55th Security Forces Squadron, crawls through loose sand and under red cables just inches above him as he makes his way through an "Evasion Challenge" put on by 55th SFS as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Jenkins and his team faced several obstacles in the challenge testing participants both physically and mentally. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman James Ray, 55th Security Forces Squadron, crawls through sand, under a camouflage canopy, as he makes his way through one of several obstacles set up for the "Evasion Challenge" May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Several teams consisting of several military branches competed in the National Police Week challenge arranged by the 55th SFS. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Chad Frahm, 55th Security Forces Squadron, crawls through sand under a camouflage canopy sitting just inches from the ground as he makes his way through one of the obstacles set up for the "Evasion Challenge" put on by 55th SFS as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. During National Police Week there was also a weapons display, golf tournament and a retreat ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Erik Olson, 55th Security Forces Squadron, tosses a dummy M16 rifle over wooden cable spindles as he and his team work together to finish the "Evasion Challenge" obstacle course as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The Evasion Challenge tested the participants both physically and mentally as they made their way across a gauntlet of challenges through mud, water and sand. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rebecca Hernandez, 55th Security Forces Squadron, walks through the mud of a drainage ditch while participating in the "Evasion Challenge" as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The Evasion challenge had several competing teams with service members from the Air Force, Army and Navy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Nicholas Romano, 55th Security Forces Squadron, emerges from the water as he leads his team toward the next obstacle that lies ahead while participating in the "Evasion Challenge" as part of National Police Week held May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The 55th SFS created the evasion challenge so teams could compete in a variety of conditions that would test the physical ability of service members as well as team building skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Marcus Stokes, 55th Security Forces Squadron, crawls through sand toward the final set of obstacles that lay ahead of him in the "Evasion Challenge" as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The Evasion Challenge was created by 55th SFS to foster teamwork and both mental and physical endurance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Grace Taylor, 55th Security Forces Squadron, maneuvers her way under cables sitting just inches above the water line as she competes in the "Evasion Challenge" as part of National Police Week May 16 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The 55th SFS set up a series of obstacles for the challenge from running in mud, swimming, crawling through sand and finishing off with hurdling obstacles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ernie Argarin, a 55th Security Forces Squadron member with the National Airborne Operations Center, along with U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lance Hillenga, 55th SFS, stand ready to perform the flag security detail at the 55th SFS retreat held during National Police Week at the Parade Grounds May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The military retreat signals the end of the duty day and pays respect to the flag. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
Members of local law enforcement and 55th Security Forces Squadron converged on the base parade grounds to participate in a retreat ceremony held on May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. This year 55th SFS held the retreat ceremony during National Police Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lance Hillenga, 55th Security Forces Squadron, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ernie Argarin, a 55th SFS member with the National Airborne Operations Center, lower the colors in front of the parade ground's gazebo while performing the flag security detail during the 55th SFS retreat held May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The retreat was part of Offutt's acknowledgment of the National Police Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ernie Argarin, a 55th Security Forces Squadron member with the National Airborne Operations Center, renders a salute to the U.S. flag at the end of the flag folding ceremony as U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lance Hillenga, 55th SFS, holds it during the 55th SFS retreat held May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The retreat served as a reminder of all the security forces Airmen who have been lost in the line of duty. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Col. Andrea Tullos, 55th Mission Support Group commander, gives opening remarks at the security forces retreat held at the Parade Grounds May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The security forces retreat coincided with the annual police week that began May 15. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Chad Frahm, 55th Security Forces Squadron, stands at the front of a formation while attending the 55th SFS retreat held at the Parade Grounds as part of National Police Week May 17 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The military retreat consisted of several speeches in memoriam to both security forces members as well as the Office of Special Investigations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger)
5/23/2012 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Team Offutt observed National Police Week May 14 - 18 with several events including a retreat ceremony on the parade grounds.
While communities across the U.S. celebrated National Police Week in some form or another, here at Offutt, it is seen through the eyes of the defenders.
"It is a time for reflection on the sacrifices that law enforcers make on a daily basis," said Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence D. Rettele, 55th Security Forces Squadron manager. "Most importantly, it is a time to recognize and pay our respects to those that lost their lives in the line of duty."
Team Offutt celebrated National Police Week with ceremonies and activities highlighting the military police officer.
"The events we selected for Police Week 2012 are representative of the cross-functional services we provide the community we serve and work to instill pride and confidence in our law enforcement professionals," said Maj. Thomas E. Segars Jr., 55th Security Forces Squadron commander.
Functions selected for the Offutt community during police week included a weapons display to introduce the public to the tools that these brave men and women use to protect and serve the community.
"There are so many things that these young professionals must be tactically and technically proficient in that it can be overwhelming," said Rettele. "You really have to be well rounded to be a 'Defender.'"
Defenders at Offutt value more than just weapons to do their job, there was an evasion challenge that tested the mental and physical endurance of each individual but the theme was teamwork.
"We just wanted to have activities that highlighted the competencies that law enforcement professionals bring to the fight," Rettele said. "[The evasion challenge was] a way to show the team work and tactics that these young men and women are proficient in, and showcase their talents.
"Over the life of a career, [being a defender] means long hours, both day and night. [There will be] a lot of thankless jobs out in the cold and rain, during holidays and weekends with time away from family and friends," he added. "Saying all that, it is what we do, and it takes a special kind of person to do this for any length of time."
With all the physical and mental challenges of being a police officer, why would anyone want to do it?
"It all comes down to having a desire and passion to take care of people in need," Segars said.
The final event for the week was the retreat ceremony, a time-honored tradition with a solemn purpose.
"The retreat ceremony serves a two-fold purpose," Rettele said. "It signals the end of the official duty day and serves as a ceremony for paying respect to the flag."
"We [also] use the event to memorialize the fallen defenders, lest we forget," added Segars.
With all the scary events that happen in communities and around the world, it is comforting to know there are a line of defenders ready to step-in at a moment's notice.
