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    Being Multi-Capable: 366th FW Airmen train for Raging Gunfighter

    Being Multi-Capable: 366th FW Airmen train for Raging Gunfighter

    Photo By Senior Airman Akeem Campbell | A group of Airmen pulls a thermal fly at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, Jan. 22,...... read more read more

    MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, ID, UNITED STATES

    01.29.2021

    Story by Airman 1st Class Akeem Campbell 

    366th Fighter Wing

    MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Teamwork, communication, adaptability and a drive to learn is what is required to participate in Raging Gunfighter, an exercise that tests the Airmen’s ability to be effective in a deployed environment.

    For the past month and a half, the 366th Fighter Wing Airmen have been engaged in the Multi-Capable Airman Rodeo, a training exercise that teaches Airmen from different squadrons skillsets from various Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC). This training is meant to prepare Airmen for the Raging Gunfighter exercise at Michael Army Airfield, Utah, Feb. 01, to Feb. 04, 2020.

    “It’s a great opportunity for so many Airmen from different AFSCs to work together with one another,” said Senior Master Sgt. Melanie Sampson, 366th Operation Support Squadron (OSS) maintenance training superintendent. “It’s important they understand how everyone operates at a different level, gains experience from one another and still be able to develop as a team.”

    The training was led by three senior noncommissioned officers: Chief Master Sgt. Erick Lizarraga, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) operations flight superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Scott Dietrich, 366th Logistics and Readiness Squadron (LRS) deployment and distribution flight superintendent and Sampson.

    “The logistical part of the planning was difficult but I’m so grateful for the team that we did have with Dietrich and Lizarraga,” Sampson said. “It’s almost like learning another Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) concept, that we were able to lean on one another and use our strengths to make a better team.”

    The Airmen participating in this exercise were divided into three teams: red team, blue team and green team, in order to accelerate the learning process.

    The red team consists of Airmen from the 389th Fighter Squadron, 366th Munitions Squadron and 366th Maintenance Squadron. The blue team consists of Airmen from the 366th LRS, 366th Force Support Squadron and 366th OSS. The green team consists of Airmen from the 366th Communications Squadron, 366th CES and 366th Security Forces Squadron.

    Each team learned a variety of skills, ranging from operating a forklift, building large tents (small shelter systems and tent modular 60s), loading and securing cargo, doing airfield checks and more.

    On Jan. 22, 2021, they engaged in a capstone exercise where all three teams apply all the skills they learned.

    “This is a stepping stone that will lead into Raging Gunfighter and we are building momentum off of this,” Lizarraga said. “What we want to do is let the Airmen experience this type of environment, and let them go through some of those mission essential tasks, so we can tweak any possible mistakes. When they participate in Raging Gunfighter, they will have a higher rate of success-even with limiting factors.”

    Even though it was snowing during the capstone, the Airmen persevered by completing several tasks such as: preparing cargo, running a simulated unexploded ordinance grid search, building structures, using a forklift, activating and operating generators, heating ventilation and air conditioning and environmental control units and providing security overwatch.

    “Today’s training was a great example about how these Airmen were able to learn different skills from different AFSCs, and show that they were able to execute what they have learned,” Dietrich said. “They proved that they can go to an austere environment, set up a camp, operate from that camp, sustain themselves for a few days and then be able to tear down and get themselves out of there in an expeditious manner.”

    With this training, Airmen have gained knowledge on more than just one AFSC and have developed the skill to be effective in a different environment, making them true examples of being multi-capable Airman.

    “I think the training is really cool,” said Senior Airman Skylar Dean, 366th Force Support Squadron services journeyman. “Coming out and seeing all the different AFSCs is something I personally never done before-watching everyone do different jobs is really valuable.”

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.29.2021
    Date Posted: 01.29.2021 18:27
    Story ID: 387974
    Location: MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, ID, US

    Web Views: 149
    Downloads: 3

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