SAMS Squad takes third at Nationals Published Nov. 1, 2010 By Connie Hempel 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- They call it the toughest two minutes in sports; our firefighters face this challenge every day. The SAMS Squad - Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors who make up the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy's firefighting competition team - finished third as a five-person relay team and first in the female category during this year's two-day National Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge held in Kissimmee, Fla., Oct. 22-24. These wins take the team up six from last year's relay ranking and up two in the individual ranking. The SAMS Squad consists of five male members - four Marines and a Soldier - and one female - Air Force - who are instructors at the fire academy. These wins show they don't just talk the talk when it comes to teaching the Defense Department's firefighters, they proved they are some of the best in the field. The wins also qualify them for the World Challenge this month. During the national competition, military and civilian fire departments from around the nation bring out their best trained, most physically fit firefighters to compete as teams or individuals against each other and the clock in rigorous challenges that simulate real-life rescues. Along with testing the firefighters' fitness levels, the competition also tests their agility with a five-task obstacle course. While wearing full bunker gear and a breathing apparatus, they must complete a tower climb/hose carry, hose hoist, forcible entry, hose advance and a victim rescue as fast as they can. The average time it takes male firefighters to complete the course is two minutes; hence the name, the toughest two minutes in sports. The relay team finished the course in 1:11.72 and the individual female category in 2:28.24. "I couldn't be any prouder than I am right now," said Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher Pickett, SAMS Squad co-captain. "This team has pushed each other beyond their mental and physical limits, and proved to themselves time and time again that we can compete with the best in the world." Staff Sgt. Pickett has been on the squad for the last two years and also participated at the national competition last year. He attributes this year's success to new team members and training. "We have three new people on the team who brought more strength, speed and personality," he said. "We also practice every day on anything that would help us with our strength, speed and stamina. Participating in regional competitions throughout the year has also helped us get better." Other firefighters who have seen SAMS Squad in action say the team's a little extreme when it comes to training, but team member Marine Sgt. Talan Wyenandt, said it makes all the difference when it comes to competing. "They call us crazy, but sometimes you can over train and sometimes you don't train hard enough," he said. "I believe that the training we do - the consistency of coming out here and honing our skills - helps us excel and pushes us to do better than before." Staff Sgt. Pickett agreed and said that just placing in the competition is an accomplishment other fire departments envy. "This team has worked so hard throughout the season," he said. "We have put so much time and energy just to be third in relay at the national championships. Every team in the challenge would love to be where we are at right now." No matter how hard they train to physically prepare themselves for the challenge, Staff Sgt. Pickett said the key is actually being mentally prepared. "This game is 90 percent mental," he said. "You have to be mentally prepared when you go into it; staying positive and ready to go helps you come out strong. The moment you doubt yourself, you defeat yourself." Staff Sgt. Pickett said the SAMS Squad thanks the Fire Academy, the Marine Corps Detachment and the rest of Goodfellow for their support through-out the years.