U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jalen Branch, 7th Reconnaissance Squadron internal security response member and Raven applicant, stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, strikes the “Redman” using his baton during a live practice on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 16, 2020. Branch practiced baton strikes, blocking, and evasive maneuvers for the following day’s “Redman” exercise. The “Redman” exercise, when run at 100 percent intensity, simulates a hostile individual actively seeking to harm the defender -- a situation Branch could find himself in once he completes the qualification course and becomes a Raven. The Ramstein Air Base Ravens pre-qualification course, instructed by the 86th Security Forces Ravens section, tests an applicant’s ability to endure extreme mental and physical strain in preparation for the 26-day Raven qualification course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristof J. Rixman)