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Senior leadership and the drill team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, pose for a picture after the drill down at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. The team was surprised to see Col. Scott Belanger, 82nd Training Wing vice commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Michelle Jackson, 82nd Training Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant, come to show their support and thank the Airman for representing the wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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The drill team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, practice at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. Usually, the team would practice four days a week, but for the last three weeks before the competition, they would practice everyday for at least an hour at a time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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The drill team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, lift up one of their teammates during the competition at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. Before coming to Sheppard, some of these Airmen never touched a rifle, let alone spin one. It takes practice and focus to keep the 12-to-15 pound rifle from injuring yourself or your teammates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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The drill team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, stands in a row at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. The Airmen do share the same base, but some are from different squadrons. The drill team gives them a chance and place for Airmen with different jobs and squadrons to come together to complete a mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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From left, Airman Rhett Robertson, 363rd Training Squadron, Airman 1st Class Tucker Norris, 365th TRS, and Airman Ethan McNeal, 364th TRS, perform a routine at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. During this routine, Robertson throws a 12-15 pound rifle behind his back as Norris waits to catch it, while McNeal and the others on the team stand at attention. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio)

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The drill team from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, presents their team to Col. Roy Collins, commander of the 37th Training Wing, at Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2018. Collins was one of four judges at the event. Other judges included Maj. Gen. Timothy Leahy, Commander of the 2nd Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. Farrell Thomas, Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 2nd Air Force and Chief Mast Sgt. Philip Eckenrod Jr., Command Chief Master Sergeant of the 37th Training Wing.

Sheppard drill team competes at Lackland, returns home with silver

Published April 18, 2018
By Airman 1st Class Pedro Tenorio
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --

Date: April 14, 2018.

Mission: Show Texas the true meaning of Air Superiority.

Method: Nine young bucks with a whole lot of hand-eye coordination and a knack for spinning things.

This is… Air Education and Training Command Drill Down 2018.

Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, sent forth an elite squad of gun twirling gurus to Lackland Air Force Base to settle the age-old question of which base gets more down at the annual drill down.

The competition took place in San Antonio, the heart of Texas. Teams from Goodfellow, Keesler and Sheppard Air Force bases joined the home teams from Lackland and Fort Sam Houston to compete for supremacy in the noble sport.

The drill down consisted of three parts. The first being an open ranks inspection, where the participants were judged on the presentation of their uniform. Next was the regulation inspection to show the judges their ability to march with snap and a sense of pride. Finally, the main event: the freestyle exhibition.

In the end, Sheppard was only one J-hook away from taking first place away from Lackland. Instead, Sheppard came home with silver, something they were not too mad about.

“Second is good,” said Staff Sgt. Daryl Ackerman, 363rd Training Squadron military training leader and coach. “It’s real cool this year because some of these guys never touched a rifle before now. What these guys do, it’s not easy, but you were there, you know it was all worth it.”

Drill competitions are far from easy, but the Sheppard team loves a challenge.

“Teams get to pick their rifle,” said Staff Sgt. Dideon Cooper, a 365th Training Squadron MTL and coach. “Our rifles are like 12 to 15 pounds; these boys make it look easy. Throwing it up, catching it. The other teams use lighter rifles, easier to throw. That’s our fault, though, for going old school.”

Although the competition was mania for the Airmen, it became more than just that.

“Despite their different (Air Force specialty codes), despite their different squadrons, they still came together as a team to complete a mission,” said Tech. Sgt. Daniel Moore, 82nd Training Wing MTL supervisor and coach. “For the last three weeks, they came together, practicing every day. It taught them accountability. They can’t get ahead if they don’t sacrifice something.”

The Airmen agreed and said that after competing, they see they are more focused and self-disciplined. They know how to set goals and how to achieve them.

In the end, the team came back content. They said they will continue practicing drill and hopefully join the Air Force color guard in the future.

Head to the Sheppard Flickr page for a more in depth look at the team and competition.