Senior Airman Scott Weeks, Maxwell fire fighter, pulls up a weight simulating hauling up a water hose during the 2015 World Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, Oct. 20, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Team members climbed the tower while carrying water hose before hauling up weights once at the top. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert)
Story by Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala.- Firefighters from Maxwell competed in their first 2015 World Scott Fire Fighter Combat Challenge Oct. 21, 2015, in Montgomery, Alabama.
The annual competition attracts hundreds of international firefighters who come together to perform five grueling tasks while wearing approximately 50 pounds of gear. It is dubbed as the toughest two minutes in sports.
The tasks include climbing a five-story tower, hoisting hose, chopping, dragging hoses and carrying a 175- pound training dummy. These simulate real life tasks that would be accomplished on the job.
The Maxwell fire department sent out three of their firefighters to compete in this year’s competition.
Senior Airman Scott Weeks, Maxwell firefighter, participated in two of the competitions previously while stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany and began training when he heard the competition was coming to Montgomery.
“I came here not knowing there was a team; I just wanted to do it on my own. I met two guys that saw me training … then they started coming out to train with me,” said Weeks.
The training began with rigorous workouts consisting mostly of cardio and a particular workout named the hour of the tower, which was a full hour of climbing the five-story tower.
“If you want to participate, you have to work hard, train hard and get ready,” said Jay Brown, Maxwell firefighter.
Over the course of four months, the team built more than muscle, they also strengthened ties.
“We were co-workers, we were firefighters, but now we are a team,” said Brown.
During the week of the competition, downtown Montgomery was packed with firefighters from 25 different locations around the world with one single objective, complete the course faster than their opponent.
Weeks participated in the individual challenge and then again during the relay challenge with his teammates.
The Maxwell firefighters received their first taste of the competition and are excited to be put to the test once again in the years to come.
Competitors climb the 5-story tower during the 2015 World Scott Fire Fighter Combat Challenge, Oct. 20, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. The 2015 World Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge is an international competition that brings firefighters from 25 different locations around the world to compete in obstacles that simulate real-life fire rescue tasks. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert)
Senior Airman Scott Weeks, Maxwell firefighter, carries a life-sized 175-pound dummy to the finish line during the 2015 World Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, Oct. 20, 2015, in Montgomery, Ala. Weeks competed in the individual competition as well as the relay portion with his teammates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert)
