Photo By Tech. Sgt. Alex Koenig | Members of the Security Forces Squadron, from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands...... read more read more
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Time felt like it was standing still as we walked off a C-130J aircraft in Anchorage, Alaska, in early June. With so much green and so much snow on the towering mountains all around us, it was truly beautiful. And with nearly 24 hours of sunlight in Alaska at that time of year, the sense of timelessness carried with us throughout the day.
The 146th Airlift Wing Air Terminal Operations Squadron, Logistical Readiness Squadron and Security Forces Squadron were scheduled to performed their annual training exercises at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in June, and my partner in crime and photographer, Tech. Sgt. Alex Koenig, and I were invited to document their training.
It began with a flight in one of our wing’s C130-J aircraft, and about eight hours later we landed in Alaska. Soon after, we were dragging our bags to an area affectionately named Mad Bull. In the middle of the woods, past a lake and over a few rivers, up several miles of winding, unpaved roads, we came upon Mad Bull — a gated “camp site” with a few small buildings, a set of showers and bathrooms and a giant fiberglass-looking dome in the center, where we slept on cots among the local bears and moose. Obviously, the Army National Guard-spread rumors about Hilton-like Air Force accommodations are false.
Security Forces began their training the next day in the classroom, learning how to read and use a compass on grid maps. Tech. Sgt. Marco De La Cruz instructed the class and emphasized the importance of understanding how to navigate without advanced technology such as a global positioning system, or GPS. Although navigation technology may be useful in the field, Tech. Sgt. Wayne Furhmann said there were major problems with the devices among deployed service members a few years ago.
In an effort to get an edge on the enemy, some service members brought their personal GPS devices on deployment and used them in the field. While this made things easier, and the troops were able to speak to each other using their equipment, the devices were not encrypted and did not use government signals. Therefore when these devices were used, they were using public satellite signals that anyone could use and track. So while those deployed members were trying to get the advantage by using digital tracking, they were actually giving their position away to the enemy. Hence, GPS systems are forbidden unless issued by Uncle Sam.
Soon after the classroom instruction, Security Forces began patrol maneuvers while working in groups. All were issued simulation rifles and rounds as well as protective vests and helmets. Then we were given a “wildlife brief” in which one of the full-time members explained the differences between brown bears and black bears (other than the obvious) and how to protect yourself if you encounter one.
If you meet a brown bear, we were told, don’t run or make any sudden movements. Lie on the ground, cover your neck and face and just pray for the bear to leave you alone, the expert said. The black bear is different. If you come across a black bear, we were taught, put your arms up to make yourself appear as large as possible and yell, and the bear should run away. This was not comforting for me — an airman who isn’t even five feet tall with her boots on.
The Security Forces airmen were then separated into groups and reviewed flanking movements. Positioning is important in these movements, so that every area has eyes on it. After a few dry runs of each movement and where everyone needed to be, the Airmen were ready to test their skills in the woods.
As they walked through the wilderness, they used hand signals to communicate while scanning the woods for potential enemies. Being in the middle of nowhere, with all the brush on the ground, the forces found it hard to be as quiet as they wanted.
The next day, vehicle maintenance personnel from the Logistics Readiness Squadron showed us the vehicles they had been working on and several large dump trucks that were getting tune-up service. There was also a fire truck that looked more like a monster truck to me: I guess the worse the weather gets, the bigger and badder the trucks need to be. I looked around and noticed that all of the vehicles in the shop had extremely large tires; most were as tall as I was.
There was a lot of action going on inside the shop, including maintenance on a large dump truck that needed a tire change. Changing a tire on an industrial dump truck is not the same as changing one on my 4Runner back home. It required two airmen, several pieces of equipment and ear plugs.
The following day we were back with Security Forces, and Alex and I followed them as they accomplished their land navigation course, bringing all of the training they had done in the classroom together and putting it to practical use. As we headed out on our land navigation course, it was soon very clear to me that we weren’t going to be hiking on the trails. We climbed over anything that stood in our path, crawling over fallen trees, literally holding back branches and walking through bushes and brush; it was a real course.
As we trekked through the terrain, the importance of exact compass readings became evident. Staff Sgt. Herb Seaman said that being off by just a few degrees could mean missing your target by 100 yards. And looking for something in a 100-yard radius through very thick forest isn’t much fun.
The next day was active shooter training. Airmen were trained on proper formations when entering a building where an active shooter may be located, procedures for clearing rooms quickly and efficiently, and how to make it to the target (the shooter) in the fastest way possible.
As a 911 dispatcher in my civilian career, the class on an active shooter was very interesting to me. These types of things unfortunately could happen anywhere, and having knowledge about what you need to do when something like this happens is vital.
The instructors for that day were Master Sgt. Bryan Morberg and Tech. Sgt. Michael Zener of the 176th Wing, Air National Guard Station, Anchorage, Alaska. They explained how to subdue your suspect, how to get to the suspect’ s location quickly and efficiently, and what to do and not do to avoid endangering more lives. The instructors also talked about active shooter incidents from the past, including the 2009 massacre at Fort Hood, Texas, and what we could learn from what did or didn’t happen there.
After our classroom training, the airmen went outside to practice formations and making entry into a building. Everyone suited up and some were given simulation rifles and ammunition. A group of airmen stood outside the doors while others were placed strategically inside, playing the roles of the shooter or victim.
And then it started. As I stood in the corner with my little blue helmet on, trying not to get shot with paintball rounds, I watched as entry teams came in, cleared the area room by room, yelled to the victims to run out the door with their hands raised and eventually found the suspect. There must have been a “take no prisoners” policy, because every time the entry group found the suspect, there was a loud barrage of rounds going off followed by an airman walking out with spots of pink and blue paint all over their uniform.
Alex and I met up in the last days with the members of the Air Terminal Operations Squadron and watched as they loaded pallets. We learned about labeling the pallets for routing and delivery, and we watched as Airman 1st Class Ron Navarro, with the direction of Staff Sgt. John Fratangelo, moved a forklift to position pallets in the warehouse.
While we were there, we received word that a plane had landed carrying soldiers and equipment back from a drop zone. We jumped in trucks and rushed down the flight line to help unload. As the soldiers exited the plane in two single-file lines, a Humvee was unloaded from the center. Tech. Sgt. Cenobio Alvarez guided the Humvee off the plane, and others did their part to get the soldiers unloaded safely.
“This is so important for us because … we have brand new airmen who need this hands-on training, airmen who are cross-training into our field from other areas and some who are preparing for possible upcoming deployments,” Alvarez said.
What these airmen learned in Alaska during their annual training is vital to the Air Force mission. Many of them will deploy soon, and this training will ensure they are prepared. They have the skills to deploy confidently, get the job done and, most importantly, return home safely.
| Date Taken: | 06.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2011 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 76840 |
| Location: | ANCHORAGE, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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