News>Buckley celebrates its birthday with Fun Fest
Photos
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Two Team Buckley members dash across the base paintball field during Fun Fest Aug. 17, 2012. Paintball was one of the many events that took place during the 460th Space Wing birthday celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Nina, a 460th Security Forces Squadron military working dog, puts on a demonstration with her trainer Staff Sgt. Rick Laird, 460th SFS canine officer, and a volunteer during Fun Fest Aug. 17, 2012. The 460th Space Wing birthday celebration included a variety of sport competitions and a community fair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Riley Johnson)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – A Team Buckley member runs to get clear of a giant blue ball his squadron members try to smother him with during Fun Fest Aug. 17, 2012. The big ball event was one of many unique activities available to participants at the 460th Space Wing’s birthday celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Phillip Houk)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Col. Daniel Dant, 460 Space Wing commander, stands with Airman Zachary Canarr, a volunteer from the 2nd Space Warning Squadron, and Buck Lee, the base mascot, after cutting the birthday cake during Fun Fest Aug. 17, 2012. The 460th Space Wing celebrated its eighth birthday with Fun Fest, a day filled with sport competitions and a community fair. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Marcy Glass)
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Team Buckley children bounce up and down on trampolines while suspended to a community fair attraction during Fun Fest Aug. 17, 2012. The event welcomed service members and families to celebrate the 460th Space Wing’s eighth birthday. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross)
by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
460th Space Wing Public Affairs
8/21/2012 - 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.
