SALEMBURG, N.C.—Fort Bragg’s Special Reaction team beat out 17 other competitors to take top billing at the 2012 North Carolina Special Weapons and Tactics Team Competition held at the North Carolina Justice Academy here Nov. 8.

The competition was a three-day event with each team competing in nine different events. The events included marksmanship, tactical operation scenarios, obstacle courses and more.

“The competition tested the capabilities, skills and the warrior mindset of SWAT teams around the state,” said Department of the Army police Lt. Blair ‘Rock’ Rockwell, the team’s commander. “Fort Bragg’s precision and expertise was clearly evident and allowed us to take the championship.”

At the completion of the contest, three teams had tied for first place and a final challenge, a ‘team carry’ integrated skills from all the other events.

“The team because we trained really hard for this,” explains Sgt. Jermaine Garrett, a military police Soldier and SRT member. “It was the best event because we all pushed each other and carried each other through the end.”

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the competition, but only the third that Fort Bragg has participated in. In six of the nine events, Fort Bragg, who was the only military team competing, placed in the top five, validating all the team’s hard work throughout the year.

“To be recognized among the other SWAT teams throughout the state, it shows the professionalism and the capabilities of the Ft. Bragg SRT,” said Rockwell.

Fort Bragg’s combined military and civilian team credited the team’s grueling training regimen.

Our members “train hard for an easy day,” said Rockwell.

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