By Staff Sgt. Anthony Nin Leclerec, Tech. Sgt. Joel Pfiester and Tsuyoshi Shinzato, Air Force Television Pentagon (SAF/PAI)

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  The United States Space Force hosted its third annual Guardian Arena, Dec. 8–9, at Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Space Force Base, bringing together Space Force units to compete in a series of physical, academic and tactical events designed to assess operational readiness and team performance. The two-day event challenged Guardians to apply critical thinking, physical endurance and teamwork in demanding, mission-focused scenarios.

Guardian Arena III featured an academic challenge, a tactical event known as “Guardian Strike,” and 14 additional physical and problem-solving stations conducted across both locations. Teams earned cumulative scores based on their performance in each event, requiring participants to adapt quickly while operating in high-pressure environments reflective of real-world conditions.

The annual competition reinforces the Space Force’s focus on developing disciplined, resilient Guardians capable of executing missions across contested domains while cultivating a competitive, warfighting mindset.