Molding resilient Defenders

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christina Russo
  • 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

More than 25 Reserve Citizen Defenders with the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, participated in the Integrated Defense Leadership Course from March 13-26, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center and Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice range estimation on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Range Estimation

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice range estimation on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice range estimation on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Range Estimation

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice range estimation on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Staff Sgt. Daryn Weatherspoon, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 445th Security Forces Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, demonstrates how to use range estimation equipment on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Range Estimation

Staff Sgt. Daryn Weatherspoon, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 445th Security Forces Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, demonstrates how to use range estimation equipment on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Weatherspoon and fellow cadre demonstrated range estimation to IDLC students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Staff Sgt. Ryan Cisneros, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 310th Security Forces Squadron, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, teaches a hands-on land navigation course on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Staff Sgt. Ryan Cisneros, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 310th Security Forces Squadron, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, teaches a hands-on land navigation course on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Cisneros used sand and cubes to teach IDLC students tactical movements necessary to either evade or defeat enemy gunfire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Senior Airman Brianna Clay, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 349th Security Forces Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California, demonstrates land navigation movements using sand and cubes on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Senior Airman Brianna Clay, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 349th Security Forces Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California, demonstrates land navigation movements using sand and cubes on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Clay assisted IDLC students in developing tactical movements necessary to evade and defeat enemy gunfire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice tactical fire maneuvers on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice tactical fire maneuvers on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS developed tactical movements necessary to evade and defeat enemy gunfire during their Integrated Defense Leadership Course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice tactical fire maneuvers on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, practice tactical fire maneuvers on March 14, 2023, at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS developed tactical movements necessary to evade and defeat enemy gunfire during their Integrated Defense Leadership Course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Aziz and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Aziz and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, use land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, use land navigation tools to calculate distance on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgt. Hanlet Contreras, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses a compass to navigate on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Tech. Sgt. Hanlet Contreras, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, uses a compass to navigate on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Contreras and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgts. Hanlet Contreras and Josue Cruz, fireteam members assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, use land navigation tools on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Tech. Sgts. Hanlet Contreras and Josue Cruz, fireteam members assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, use land navigation tools on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Contreras and Cruz participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgt. Hanlet Contreras, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires an M4 carbine on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Land Navigation

Tech. Sgt. Hanlet Contreras, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires an M4 carbine on March 15, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Contreras and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed tactical movements necessary for combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Knepper demonstrated claymore defense tactics to Integrated Defense Leadership Course students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Knepper demonstrated claymore defense tactics to Integrated Defense Leadership Course students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to detonate a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Knepper demonstrated claymore defense tactics to Integrated Defense Leadership Course students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to rig a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, Air Force Reserve Command security forces training manager, demonstrates how to rig a claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Knepper demonstrated claymore defense tactics to Integrated Defense Leadership Course students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgt. Jason Barracato, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, places a training claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Tech. Sgt. Jason Barracato, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, places a training claymore on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Barracato and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where they developed combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgt. Allen Russell, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 910th Security Forces Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, hands off a practice grenade to an IDLC student on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Tech. Sgt. Allen Russell, an Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre member assigned to the 910th Security Forces Squadron, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, hands off a practice grenade to an IDLC student on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Russell and fellow cadre members demonstrated to IDLC students the proper technique of throwing a grenade. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre demonstrate how to throw a grenade on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre demonstrate how to throw a grenade on March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. The IDLC cadre is tasked with developing combat-ready Defenders during each two-week IDLC throughout the year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Practice grenades rest on a box, March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Grenades and Claymores

Practice grenades rest on a box, March 17, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. After being instructed on proper throwing techniques from the Integrated Defense Leadership Course cadre, each practice grenade was thrown by IDLC students to develop combat readiness skills necessary for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, communicate defense strategies on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, communicate defense strategies on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Tech. Sgt. Josue Cruz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, picks up a standard range card on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Tech. Sgt. Josue Cruz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, picks up a standard range card on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Cruz and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires a M240B machine gun at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Airman 1st Class Devon Aziz, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires a M240B machine gun at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Aziz and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Spent shells from a M240B machine gun rest on the ground, March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Spent shells from a M240B machine gun rest on the ground, March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course where Defenders developed combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Airman 1st Class Jhi Nichols, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires a M240B machine gun at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Airman 1st Class Jhi Nichols, a fireteam member assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fires a M240B machine gun at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Nichols and fellow Defenders participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire M4 carbines and a M240B machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire M4 carbines and a M240B machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, take cover during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, take cover during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire M4 carbines and a M240B machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire M4 carbines and a M240B machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staf Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire a M240B machine gun and a M249 light machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio.

IDLC 2023: Static Defense

Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, fire a M240B machine gun and a M249 light machine gun during a static defense exercise on March 20, 2023, at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Ohio. Defenders from the 459th SFS participated in a two-week Integrated Defense Leadership Course to develop combat readiness skills needed for wartime situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christina Russo)

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Whether in the classroom or in the field, Defenders from the 459th SFS were pushed to their limits. Throughout the duration of the course, IDLC cadre injected stressors to provide a more real-world approach to combat training.

“It is important to expose Airmen to the elements, to show them elements are merely obstacles that can be overcome with proper planning,” said Tech. Sgt. Darnnelle Gibbs, an IDLC cadre member assigned to the 514th Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. “Tactical movements during cold weather differ from warm weather and how noise discipline is in their favor during rainfall versus no rainfall.”

Under the Air Force Reserve Command’s stress inoculation program, IDLC cadre provide third-party mentoring and coaching to students on how to respond to stressful situations as a team and as individuals.

“The 459th SFS demonstrated a great deal of growth in their collective skills and their abilities to deal with stress in ways that resulted in positive outcomes for the team,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Knepper, AFRC security forces training manager.

While under stress, Defenders gain essential skills necessary for combat. According to Knepper, such skills are otherwise unavailable to be obtained during a routine Unit Training Assembly weekend. 

“Patrolling, mission planning, establishing and executing an integrated static defense line, and employing security forces weapons and equipment are difficult skills to address on unit training weekends due to the advanced subject matter, time and space requirements, and the competing obligations at home station,” said Knepper.

IDLC is designed to mold resilient Defenders capable of fulfilling the mission no matter the situation.

“This course helps build more confident leaders and helps identify gaps in skills that can be addressed to produce a more balanced Airman,” said Gibbs. “We as cadre members plan on exposing young Airmen to leadership roles and giving them obtainable tasks, which will boost confidence and perhaps the desire to take on larger tasks.”

While constant adjustments are being made to the IDLC curriculum, the time frame in which to teach it remains unchanged. Training is limited to a two-week time period where IDLC cadre forge innovative ways to teach and mold a more resilient security force capable of taking on any stressors while completing the mission.

“The Defenders that attend IDLC contend with many stressors; absence from family, long training days, difficult standards, weather, and terrain,” said Knepper. “Overwhelmingly, they complete IDLC with a positive sense of accomplishment and a better understanding of their abilities, the abilities of their teammates, and an experience that they know will serve them in the future. The weather, the training and the terrain are all friction points that polish and hone the edges of these Defenders – they don’t shy away from it at all; they embrace it.”