JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 315 Airlift Wing’s 4th Combat Camera Squadron won first place at this month’s 2022 Spc. Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.
The competition is a joint, multi-national event consisting of visual information specialists, public affairs mass communication specialists and combat photographers. Competitors from across the DOD and participating NATO partners are tested on physical, tactical and technical proficiencies.
This year, 4CTCS sent two teams to this year’s competition:
Team 7: Tech. Sgt. Corban Lundborg, Senior Airman Joseph LeVeille
Team 8: Master Sgt. Fracisco Govea II, Senior Airman Jake Buck
Lundborg and LeVeille came out at the top of the pack of 18 competitors in 21 events. This is the first year a team from the Air Force Reserve won the event.
“It was a fun competition this year and it was good training” Lundborg said. “There were a lot of great teams. It’s really about getting to meet everyone in this career field, building relationships and getting better at our job.”
Events include Hero-WOD, capabilities briefings, day and night land navigation, a swim event, undisclosed distance ruck marches, a tactical lane, sensitive site exploitation and a variety of ranges including pistol challenges, marksmanship qualifications and stress shoots.
“It was a privilege to compete with such talented professionals and an honor to tell my dad’s story,” said LeVeille. One of the winning team’s project submissions was a video telling about how LeVeille’s father, who lost his life while serving in the Army, inspired him to join the military.
“As one of the more senior competitors, I love the training opportunities that come with this competition," Lundborg added. "The week isn’t all about beating the other teams, but putting your best foot forward and helping others along the way. We’re all able to learn from each other and give back to the community.”
The competition serves as a melting pot of talent, equipment, technical knowledge and experience. New competitors and veteran-teams alike earn the respect of their services and fellow competitors while establishing long-lasting partnerships across their career fields.
EDITOR’S NOTE: U.S. Army Sgt. Henry Villarama, 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera) contributed to this article.