Photo By Master Sgt. Joseph Harwood | Members of the 200th RED HORSE, Camp Perry, Ohio, participate in a Field Training...... read more read more
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Ohio Air National Guard members from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron (RHS), Camp Perry, Ohio, participated in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) May 14, 2016. Different scenarios were presented by Wing Inspector General (IG) teams to increase readiness for construction projects in hostile territory.
The 200th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) squadrons are the U.S. Air Force’s heavy construction units. Their capabilities are similar to those of the U.S Navy Seabees and U.S Army heavy construction organizations. Their responsibilities take them to remote and undeveloped locations in support of global missions. 200th RHS Commander, Col. Andrew Stephan, said “The scenario of this FTX exercise is to set up and establish a base camp. In this case, about 40 tents for 400 personnel who stay throughout the training weekend over three days. We also set up a command and control; a command tent where we run the whole operation of the squadron.”
During the FTX, members simulated a construction project in a hostile location where the airmen had to establish a base camp. This included setting up living quarters and finding a natural source of water to purify. They used reverse osmosis to purify water from a local pond and created a reservoir in potable water bladders. Stephan explained, “We are simulating the need to stay for a year or longer with all 400 personnel. We establish the command and control elements, demonstrating how we can command and operate both self sufficiently, providing all the equipment we need to provide life support; such as food tents and clothing. It also shows we know how to operate in a chemical environment if we’re attacked and how to sustain operations in that environment.”
A Disaster Relief Mobile Kitchen (DRMK) was established to simulate feeding the masses. The free-standing mobile kitchen; similar to a concession trailer seen at many public events, is designed for fast setup and shutdown, comes ready for rapid transport aboard a C-130, and is built to be pulled with a standard heavy-duty pickup.
The IG team set up random attack scenarios causing airmen to cease construction projects and react to the threat appropriately. Ground bursts and smoke grenades were used to simulate Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) attacks, sending airmen into appropriate Mission Orientated Protective Posture (MOPP). MOPP is protective gear used by airmen in a toxic environment.
The need to be ready for any location and living conditions is important to prepare for. Stephan said, “This year we were in five different countries and three different Combatant Command AOR’s (Areas of Responsibility) doing construction projects. But what we don’t do on a yearly basis, or even a frequent basis, is go set up a camp that is entirely self-sufficient which we are required to be able to do. So we must train for those conditions.”
The exercise offered the opportunity for hands on experience and a chance to identify areas of needed improvement. The Ohio Air National Guard unit is always on mission to respond with highly qualified citizen airmen to execute Federal, State and community missions.
| Date Taken: | 05.14.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.17.2016 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 198358 |
| Location: | MANSFIELD, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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