Space wing reservists showcase grit, heritage during combat dining in

by Tech. Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
310th Space Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2014 - SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo -- An obstacle course, squirt guns, riot shields and blue flight suit "throwbacks." Oh, and Spartans guarding a grog bowl.

It was all-out war between the squadrons of the 310th Space Wing March 1 during the wing's Combat Dining In/Annual Award Banquet at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The event brought more than 400 Air Force Reservists together in the fun-filled atmosphere of a C-130 hangar, strengthening the wing's esprit de corps, camaraderie and morale within the ranks.

Members wore their best "battle" gear for the dining in, donning anything from tiger stripe uniforms from deployments of yesteryear, Air Force Space Command's blue flightsuit from the 1990s and even the attire of Spartan warriors as made famous in the movie "300." Senior Airman Grant Nelson, a fire team leader with the 310th Security Forces Squadron, had never attended a combat dining in before - and couldn't wait until the next one.

"I thought it was awesome!" said Nelson, who has been in the Air Force Reserve for four years. "I had never been to an event like that in the military. It was a great way to mingle with other people in different missions while also being a great morale booster to build us as a team."

As one of the lead planners for the event, Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Christensen, 310th Operations Group standardization and evaluation superintendent, said she felt the event went very well.

"I think we were very surprised by the number of folks that attended," Christensen said. "For this event to get more than 400, just military members, was quite impressive. It showed that this type of event was appealing to a good chunk of this wing compared to the fancy version."

For the wing's command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Gary Brown, he said the combat dining In "filled his heart with pride" as he watched the wing's "family of professionals" come together.

"It was a long time coming and the planning committee did an outstanding job pulling it together," Brown said. "I am so proud and honored to be the command chief of the 310th Space Wing."

The event's fundraising also has left organizers in the black, clearing $400, in what Christensen believed was a first.

Master Sgt. Patrick Hampton, 8th Space Warning Squadron, Detachment 1 first sergeant and lead planner for the event as well, said feedback from the wing was overwhelmingly positive, with one Airman telling him "it was the best event has had been to during his entire career."

It was great to see so much participation from the wing as a whole," Hampton said. "We were very impressed with the high level of participation we received from the units based at Buckley. This, coupled with the outstanding support from both the local community and our local military family, made the event successful."