36th Wing Defenders represent Team Andersen during PACAF combat skills competition Published May 19, 2026 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam. -- Hosted by the 36th Wing and sponsored by PACAF A4S, the weeklong competition brings together 15 teams from across the Pacific theater and partner nations, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Germany, and Thailand, to test advanced combat readiness, tactical proficiency and warrior skills. Throughout the competition, Team Andersen’s defenders will compete alongside some of the region’s top Security Forces teams while strengthening interoperability, partnerships and combat capability across the Indo-Pacific. Meet the Airmen representing the 36th Wing during this year’s ACSA: Captain Brock Southwick, 736th Security Forces Squadron What does representing your unit in this capacity mean to you? "Being afforded the opportunity to represent the 736 SFS for the 2026 Advanced Combat Skills Assessment (ACSA) is an honor. Our team is excited to compete in this competition and give our absolute best effort in every event. Being able to engage in friendly competition with Defenders across the Pacific as well as partner nation forces across the globe makes this opportunity even more exciting!" Staff Sergeant Marcial Ruiz-Bonilla, 736th Security Forces Squadron What are you looking forward to in the competition? "Combatives! I’ve been training martial arts since I was about eight years old and it’s been a huge part of my life since then. I love the thrill of competing to see where my mental toughness is at." Senior Airman Skyler LaCaille, 736th Security Forces Squadron What being a Defender mean to you? "Being a Defender means pushing myself to my physical and mental limits in preparation to help protect those in need. As a Defender, I know that I could be responding to someone’s worst day, so I know I have to keep myself as ready as I can be for when that day comes." Senior Airman Reese Smith, 736th Security Forces Squadron What does representing your unit in this capacity mean to you? "It means a great deal to me to represent this unit in a worldwide stage and demonstrate what the 736 SFS is capable of. I have been a part of this great unit for three years and am excited to showcase what I have trained." Senior Airman Charles Ignacio, 736th Security Forces Squadron What being a Defender mean to you? "We are expected to uphold the standards set upon us. I believe that we as Defenders should not be content with only meeting that standard but should seek to go above it. We should aim to build trust within our communities, while always staying mission ready for any situation." Staff Sergeant Richard María Perez, 36th Security Forces Squadron What being a Defender mean to you? "To me, being a Defender means having a warrior mentality and always remaining physically, mentally, and spiritually ready for any challenge. It means being trusted to protect those around me and the mission itself under any condition. Being a Defender requires discipline and the commitment to stand ready at all time." Staff Sergeant Austin Miller, 36th Security Forces Squadron What does representing your unit in this capacity mean to you? "Representing the unit means showing the standard we train to every day and proving our team can perform under pressure against top competition." Staff Sergeant Cambrea Thompson, 36th Security Forces Squadron What are you looking forward to in the competition? "I’m most looking forward to challenging myself, gaining more experience, and growing from the competition." Senior Airman Anauino Raass, 36th Security Forces Squadron What being a Defender mean to you? "Being a Defender means being able to perform a variety of different roles to support the mission." Airman 1st Class Joseph Polomsky, 36th Security Forces Squadron What does representing your unit in this capacity mean to you? "Representing the unit is an honor and shows the trust my leadership has in me to showcase my abilities as a Defender." Master Sergeant Brian Lefevere, 36th Security Forces Squadron