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    In the Land of the Midnight Sun, Citizen Airmen Complete Historic Training

    In the Land of the Midnight Sun

    Photo By Staff Sgt. Briana Larson | Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Kyle Chan, 136th Logistics Readiness Squadron air...... read more read more

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

    07.03.2019

    Story by Staff Sgt. Briana Larson 

    136th Airlift Wing (Texas Air National Guard)

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For the first time in Alaska, 136th Airlift Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron Citizen Airmen completed their 2-week annual training (AT) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), accomplishing core tasks to ensure they are ready to deploy in the future. During this training, the 136 LRS refined their skills by working hand-in-hand with active duty Airmen and civilians currently stationed here.

    “Right now our main mission is just to train and become proficient,” said Tech. Sgt. Deanne Prado, 136 LRS air transportation deployment specialist. We do this once a year, but we could also be rotating between the other shops. There’s fleet, terminal services, special handling, Air Traffic Operations Center, ramp and cargo.”

    Throughout their training, 136 LRS members collaborated with the 732nd Air Mobility Squadron here to take full advantage of training opportunities not available at home station.

    “I haven’t done PAX since 2013,” Sgt. Prado explains describing the importance of traveling for training. “There is a lot of emphasis on people who have volunteered to go on a future deployment. To ensure career competency, nationwide travel is a necessity to be ready for what we all joined the military to do-fight and support our country. ”

    Nationwide travel is commonplace to gain career proficiency within the 136 AW. These Air Guardsmen joined forces with the 732nd AMS and far exceeded that training goal.

    Nearly a dozen 136 LRS Airmen excelled during this training by assisting in 32 cargo missions, handling 18 aircraft, and processing 200 passengers (PAX). Their goal was to complete 91 training tasks, a goal they exceeded by 32 percent, reaching a total of 123 tasks.

    The 732 AMS provided initial 4k and 6k forklift training, and proficiency training on the 10AT and 25k forklifts. These forklifts enable load operators to lift and move loads from 4,000-25,000lbs with ease on and off aircraft.

    “I think the training, in regards to PAX, was probably the best AT I have been on because of the civilians and the active duty,” said Prado. “They were a real team.”

    In addition to providing great training, the 732 AMS’s hospitality was unmatched.

    “They were really good to us,” said Prado. “Mr. Davis, a civilian who works along the active duty Airmen, brought us meatballs, banana split ice cream cake, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, beef ribs, tri-tip, all these types of sausages -- it was good.”

    During their stay, they achieved deployment ready status through working together and completing each mission with ease. Through their career training and travel, these Citizen Airmen are now prepared to take on every service member’s ultimate task -- deployment.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.03.2019
    Date Posted: 07.29.2019 10:46
    Story ID: 333389
    Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US

    Web Views: 83
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN