PACAF Advanced Combat Skills Assessment showcases region’s best ‘Defenders’

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joseph Maye
  • 36th Wing
Andersen Air Force Base, Guam --  

The 9th iteration of the annual Pacific Air Forces Advanced Combat Skills Assessment took place at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 17-23, 2026.

This assessment, hosted by the 36th Wing, was designed to evaluate and sharpen combat readiness levels of the region’s top Security Forces teams while promoting teamwork and interoperability among multiple allied partnered nations across the Indo-Pacific theatre.

“These exercises are truly an opportunity for these partnered nations, allies, and other defenders to understand that they are executing their combat skills in support of an operational plan,” said Lt. Col. Jordan Criss, PACAF Security Forces Division deputy. “Understanding that they are a part of the bigger picture will have us prepared for any adversary we might face.”

The competition consisted of 75 participants divided into 15 teams of five, including 10 PACAF teams competing alongside participants from allied nations, including the Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, German Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal Thai Air Force.

Teams were challenged in areas of combat fitness, agility, endurance, combatives and marksmanship. Each competitor rotated through the marksmanship challenge as part of the overall evaluation. 

“The point of this is to test how well you maintain your weapon fundamentals in a state of exhaustion,” said Capt. Brock Southwick, 736th Security Forces Squadron ACSA team lead. “Maintaining your composure and collecting your breath ensures efficiency and accuracy when it comes to lining up your shot.”
 
Despite some language barriers, teams were still able to find ways to communicate, strengthening teamwork amongst each other while learning new strategies, effectively boosting readiness.
 

“When together, Airmen from the U.S. and the other nations find out similarities and differences in the way things are done” said Capt. Kwon Min-seok, Republic of Korea Air Force Captain, “This lets us better understand each other, improving our comradery and boosting our communication.”

The Royal Australian Air Force won the overall competition earning the highest cumulative score across all assessments.

“After the event, you see our partners with some of our Airmen congratulating each other, being genuinely excited by the performance showcased while exchanging some helpful tactics,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Graves, PACAF Headquarters Security Forces Division manager. “The bar has, no doubt, been raised during the past five days, and encourages all to improve their combat readiness for any future battles headed our way.”