Photo By Franchesca Conner | 150th Special Operations Wing Command Post is named Air National Guard Command Post of...... read more read more
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.- 3/17/2017 –– Members of the 150th Special Operations Wing (SOW) Command Post developed a training program to help their Drill Status Guardsmen (DSG) become fully trained in their core tasks as well as other day-to-day functions.
The goal was to fully utilize DSGs, which is their main resource, so that they can become proficient within their jobs and empowered to run the shop unsupervised.
For more than a year, command post controllers from the New Mexico Air National Guard have integrated with their active duty counterparts; the 377th Air Base Wing, at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) and the 27th Special Operations Wing, located at Cannon AFB.
Challenges can arise as a Drill Status Guardsman and especially during training. Guardsmen must use time wisely during Unit Training Assemblies, which typically occurs once a month and during their annual training. Master Sgt. Christopher Morgan, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Command Post, knows how important training is to his department. He also realizes how important it is to integrate the training with active duty counter parts, due to the benefits for future endeavors.
The training consists of conducting duties in different scenarios or units. A Command Post acts as a central information hub for their unit and coordinates with the wing and various command centers to communicate information efficiently and effectively.
“We started to notice a trend. DSG members were not getting trained adequately to be deployable. Our job is to produce deployment ready Airmen so we can send them out the door at any moment. Any one of the DSGs have to be able to step up and take my place if I’m not available or if we need extra assistance. We have created a system for those members to get into a status of training so that they are ready to go,” said Morgan.
The new training structure not only assists the 150 SOW, but alleviates manpower stress within active duty counterparts. Members of the 150th are able to augment active duty Airmen when these units may become undermanned.
“This is a way we can produce deployment ready airmen that are certified so we can help integrate into active duty deployments. I’ve got two members going over to Cannon AFB and the nice thing is we’re able to send them over on annual training days so they can get the experience they need. They can get right into the SOW and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) program giving them the opportunity to get a huge chunk of training completed to meet their core requirements. Now they have the experience and the background to do the job sufficiently. So the nice thing is they’re able to train just the way AFSOC functions with Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command assets. Our guys are getting everything in a one stop shop,” said Morgan.
The combined efforts from this training program and the hard work from the 150 SOW Command Post bestowed them the 2016 Air National Guard Command Post of the Year award.
Morgan hopes this training program can be implemented into other guard units in the future.
“The big thing I am hoping to achieve with this program is that we can go out and integrate with other guard units. Giving other units a view of how they can work with their active duty counterparts. If they can find other units that are close to them and are willing to help them expand their training efforts, that’s our goal,” said Morgan.
| Date Taken: | 04.09.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.09.2017 18:05 |
| Story ID: | 229732 |
| Location: | ALBUQUERQUE, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Rise of Command Post: Guardsmen Train with Active Duty Airmen, by Franchesca Conner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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