Airmen train for deployment

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon White
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  About 150 Airmen participated in an expeditionary readiness exercise at Camp Grizzly Dec. 12 to 13. 

The exercise prepared Airmen for contingencies they may encounter during a real-world deployment. 

"We have to practice war skills in cold weather as well," said Chief Master Sergeant Steve Sargent, 341st Space Wing command chief. "We don't train only in fair-weather because we are not a fair-weather Air Force." 

The exercise included large-scale integrated security forces participants for the first time, said Daniel Keder, 341st SW exercise evaluation team chief. 

During previous exercises, Airmen were augmented from other career fields, Mr. Keder said. 

"Security forces Airmen are now given unit tasking codes so they deploy as a 13-person unit," Mr. Keder said. "This allowed for participation from approximately 70 security forces Airmen, and made the exercise much more realistic." 

The exercise included small arms fire using blank ammunition, three mortar attacks using ground burst simulators and simulated sniper fire. 

Security forces Airmen were not the only ones who were busy, Mr. Keder said. 

Airmen from the 341st Civil Engineer Squadron performed base repairs and contract submittals, and the 341st Services Squadron provided meals ready to eat and processed two simulated fatalities. 

Violations of the Law of Armed Conflict, which dictates military law during war, were also exercised. 

Participants were given inputs from exercise evaluation team members which simulated contingencies such as an Airman violating LOAC by altering ammunition, Mr. Keder said. 

"We evaluated how the violation was reported through the chain of command and handled by commanders," he said. 

Airmen also participated in post-attack reconnaissance following mortar attacks to locate unexploded ordnance. 

"We had very positive exercise participation," Mr. Keder said. "[The Airmen] had a positive attitude and took the exercise seriously which made it successful."