Women's Only Self-Defense

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Terra Brice, a crew chief with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina Air National Guard, demonstrates a self-defense tactic taught by Lance Cpl. Aubree Torres, a training police officer with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Oct. 6, 2013. Airmen assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing participate in a “females only” self-defense class provided by Richland County Sheriff’s Department. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson/Released)

Women's Only Self-Defense

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina Air National Guard, participate in a “females only” self-defense class provided by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Oct. 6, 2013. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson/Released)

You have the right to survive

Published Oct. 9, 2013
By Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson
169th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina -- Empowerment was the goal as a group of female Airmen from the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., participated in a women's only self-defense class, Oct. 6, in the base gym. The class was part of Richland County Sheriff's Department's crime prevention program, a service provided free of charge to the public.

"I enjoy empowering women to give them a tool they will hopefully never have to use, but if they do, they have a fighting chance to survive," said Lance Cpl. Aubree Torres, a field training police officer with RCSD. "The empowerment for women is why I do this."

The Swamp Fox ladies were taught a series of tactics and techniques that could prove to be the difference in life or death if ever put in a victimizing circumstance. The training and discussions brought to light situations where women should be aware of their surroundings and ways to respond, fight and survive in the event of a violent encounter.

A sign was posted on the gym doors stating "Females Only" during the four-hour class. This allowed the privacy warranted to provide effective and uninterrupted self-defense training tactics to those who attended.

"It was important for me to learn simple self-defense tactics to help keep me safe in an unfortunate situation," said Senior Airman Terra Brice, a crew chief with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "After taking the self-defense class, I feel confident that I would be able to use the tactics I learned in a real situation and defend my life."

Any women interested in attending one of these self-defense classes are invited to visit www.rcsd.net. Click the link at the bottom of the page for Free Women's Self Defense Classes to view the scheduled classes held throughout Columbia this year.