Freedom’s Guardian prepares Airmen for deployment

Photo By Senior Airman Thomas Karol | U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 700th Contracting Squadron train during a contracting exercise on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, June 28, 2021. The exercise takes place annually to give Airmen an opportunity to train in a simulated deployed environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Madelyn Keech)  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, GERMANY

07.06.2021

Courtesy Story

86th Airlift Wing

The 700th Contracting Squadron hosted exercise Freedom’s Guardian June 28-29 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The exercise is designed to prepare Airmen who have never deployed before for a EUCOM-based scenario where they focused on supporting allies and strategic partners in the region, and forward operations units.

“It really is the first building block to give Airmen the technical expertise, but also getting them used to operating in this type of environment,” Lt. Col. Kenneth Herringdine, 700th CONS commander, said. “Getting them in this bare-base type setup helps change their mindset from operating out of the office.”

Airmen from the 700th CONS, 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, 52nd CONS and 435th Construction and Training Squadron partnered for the training exercise.

Forward operating bases have been the focus of the 700th CONS’ contracting support since 2006, however, many Airmen from the 700th CONS have never deployed before.

“In a setting like this, not only do you get one mentor, sometimes you get multiple between the Wing Inspection Team and the trainers,” said Staff Sgt. Kent Pendleton, 700 CONS unit training manager. “It’s something that I wish younger Airman Pendleton would have had the chance prior to my first deployment to do, so I think it’s awesome.”

This year’s Freedom’s Guardian focused on increasing the readiness of the participating Airmen, enabling them to support any mission they are tasked with. The training serves to help Airmen execute the 86th Airlift Wing’s mission of building Airmen, projecting power and building partners.

• Date Taken: 07.06.2021
• Date Posted: 07.06.2021 05:53
• Story ID: 400366
• Location: RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RP, DE