Anchorage area first responders engage in friendly competition

by Senior Airman Tammie Ramsouer
JBER Public Affairs

6/25/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- First responders from throughout the Anchorage area gathered Saturday to participate in the 2015 Hero Games in downtown Anchorage.

Service members from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson competed against other teams in trials of strength, agility and precision while crowds of community members, families and friends watched and cheered them on.

The Anchorage Downtown Partnership hosts the annual event to honor local emergency service personnel and military members.

The first event was the tire flip-and-roll followed by an agility course, endurance course, scooter race, tug-of-war and various other physical challenges.

"The Hero Games was a great experience overall," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Cody Nelson, 673d Civil Engineer Squadron fire department crew chief, and a native of Arcadia, Nebraska. "The community support, competition and camaraderie made it a very fun and enjoyable event."

Air Force Staff Sgt. Geristofer Carrasco, a dental technician and with the 673d Dental Squadron, said he enjoyed the event.

"Even though we didn't place, we displayed the true meaning of teamwork," Carrasco said. "In my eyes, that makes us winners."

This year the 673d Civil Engineer Squadron Firefighters, JBER Fire Dogs, took first place for the 2015 Hero Games. The 673d Security Forces Squadron took second place and the Army National Guard placed third.