Photo By Airman 1st Class Gabriel Jones | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Daniel Fernandez, 353rd Special Warfare Training Squadron...... read more read more
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SAN ANTONIO-- U.S. Air Force Special Warfare operators rappelled 110 feet during the singing of the national anthem at the San Antonio Spurs versus the Indiana Pacers basketball game on “Military Appreciation Night” at Frost Bank Arena, March 3, 2024.
Special Warfare annually visits the San Antonio Spurs to perform for their crowds during the Spurs’ military appreciation game.
Tech. Sgt. DeVaughn Wilkins, 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron Special Warfare Candidate Course instructor, looked forward to rappelling on game day.
“It’s always exciting and riveting to do these events for the public,” Wilkins said. “Performing a rappel for a community of supporters, it’s such a different experience versus when you are [rappelling] for training purposes.”
Wilkins, along with three other special warfare operators, displayed their skills in front of more than 18,000 people in attendance, to help create an awareness of Air Force Special Warfare and foster the relationship between the military and the San Antonio community.
“There is a huge sense of patriotism involved,” Tech. Sgt. Erik Bearden, 350th Special Warfare Training Squadron Special Warfare Candidate Course acting section chief, team lead and ropemaster for the event. “When you [lower] that 30-40 foot U.S. flag into an arena of thousands of people and they react positively, that feels really good to see.”
After the performance, Bearden felt the support from audience members as he walked through the arena.
“We have people cheering for us as we come in to get set up,” Bearden said. “We get more ‘thank yous’ and appreciation after we break down. You can feel the support. I think they really appreciate us showing them what we do.”
Both Wilkins and Bearden recognize the importance of these opportunities to raise awareness.
“We’re considered quiet professionals,” Bearden said. “There aren’t as many movies about us like the [U.S. Navy] SEALs or the [U.S. Army] Green Berets. I think these kinds of events help enlighten the younger generation that we’re out here too. We have been in all the major conflicts that have happened in the last 30 years, though you may have not heard of us.”
Wilkins shared a similar sentiment along with part of the reason he volunteered his service to the United States military.
“We just want to get the message out that Special Warfare is a viable career option,” said Wilkins. “I joined because I knew it would be challenging, physically, and I wanted to do something that when I looked back, I could be proud of.”
Air Force special operators are employed to gain global access, provided precision strike and conduct personnel recovery across the spectrum of conflict.
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.28.2024 18:00 |
| Story ID: | 466181 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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