Forged on the West Coast: SLD 30 Guardians, Airmen take home third place at 2025 Guardian Arena competition

U.S. Air Force Col. Lawrence Smith, SLD 30 deputy commander, and U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Shannan Sanchez, Space Launch Delta 30 senior enlisted leader, congratulate U.S. Space Force 1st Lt. Pavel Buechter, 2d Range Operations Squadron Minotaur and Aeronautical Program lead, for completing a challenge during the Guardian Arena 2025 competition at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, Dec. 9, 2025. The two-day event brought together 35 teams from across the U.S. Space Force and its mission partners to test readiness, teamwork, and the competitive spirit in physical, mental, and tactical challenges designed to test the abilities of Guardians. Guardian Arena reinforces the Space Force’s obligation to maintain readiness by developing Guardians capable of meeting both physical and mental demands of modern space warfare. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi)