Third Annual Guardian Arena

Guardian Arena medals are shown during the opening ceremony of the third annual Guardian Arena at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Dec. 8, 2025. Thirty-five teams, comprised of United States Space Force Guardians, United States Air Force Airmen, civilians, and representatives from international allies and partners, participated in the world’s largest Space Force exercise. The competition provides the opportunity to emphasize the continuous importance of cultivating a combat-ready mindset, link military and civilian space enterprises, and instill esprit de corps with an opportunity to operationalize the Guardian Ideals. (U.S. Space Force photo by Gwendolyn Kurzen)

Space Force hosts its third annual Guardian Arena

Published Jan. 22, 2026
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.

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