Using brains and brawn, 2 Security Forces Squadron took out the Veteran Games championship against veterans at the Gold Coast from August 17-18.
Imagining the tug-of-war would be their most challenging event, Flight Sergeant Lachlan Pegg said they surprised themselves by winning it.
It was conditioning, not raw strength that got them there.
"We were a fairly lean team and anticipated we would struggle against the sheer size of some of the other teams," Flight Sergeant Pegg said.
"However, when we held strong and our opponents started to fatigue, we took the advantage to heave the rope and pull them over the line.
Organiser and team captain Leading Aircraftman Nic Greenslade said although he "stacked" the team with a few strong contenders, some were unable to make it on the day.
"I didn't think we'd get past round one in the tug-of-war event, to be honest. We had discounted ourselves out of it, but out of nowhere we managed to win. It was pretty emotional," Leading Aircraftman Greenslade said.
In its second year, the Veteran Games puts competitors' military skills and experience to the test. As a team of 10, they needed to solve problems and complete physical tasks drawn from military service and combat across six events.
'We went in with the intent of winning, pretty confident, and would have been disappointed if we didn't win.'
Most were obstacle-style and involved moving items such as sandbags, logs and jerry cans.
The unit entered the competition after Leading Aircraftman Greenslade saw a Veteran Games poster at the RAAF Base Amberley gym.
There was no shortage of interest among the fittest of the enlisted aviators and officers.
According to Leading Aircraftman Greenslade, as a whole, the musterings and categories at 2 Security Forces Squadron were pretty competitive when it came to anything fitness-related.
"We went in with the intent of winning, pretty confident, and would have been disappointed if we didn't win," he said.
The games used an aggregate scoring system, including time, leadership and technique.
Scores weren't publicised so teams didn't know exactly where they sat, but the 2 Security Forces Squadron team knew they were in a good position after finishing fastest in five events.
Competition aside, Leading Aircraftman Greenslade was impressed with the provision of recovery mechanisms, such as nutrition, physiotherapy, ice baths and massage.
"I was quite surprised how fatiguing it was, how big the days were. I'm one of the younger competitors and we are pretty fit, and even our bodies were feeling wrecked afterwards," he said.
Flight Sergeant Pegg said it wasn't just about winning the competition - they also wanted to interact with other veterans and support the community as best they could.
2 Security Forces Squadron is planning on entering two teams next year in a Veteran Games that's likely to grow in size and competitiveness.
