Photo By Senior Airman Samantha Thorn | U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Allen, Headquarters U.S. Air Force director of...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, TX – The 22nd Air Task Force is forging a new path in combat readiness with an intensive, 11-day field training exercise at Fort Bliss, Texas, centered around a groundbreaking "Airmen teaching Airmen" approach to base operations, support and protection. Building on the momentum of previous exercises, this field event emphasized the fundamentals of warfighting, ensuring every Airman is prepared to maintain combat readiness.
A central component of the exercise was a six-day, base-defense-focused training program adapted from the Expeditionary Center’s Advanced Ready Training – Contingency Location course. The course prepares combat support Airmen to defend and ensure the continuity of air operations by enabling ATF members to train together, leveraging in-house expertise and eliminating reliance on external training centers.
“Our Defenders, experts in base protection, are leading the instruction and tailoring the curriculum to mission-specific needs,” specified Master Sgt. Corey Green, 22nd ATF senior noncommissioned officer of security forces operations. “This not only ensures combat support Airmen are fully prepared to safeguard global Department of Defense assets, but also strengthens unit cohesion, builds trust in defenders, and fosters a unified, mission-ready force.”
This exercise challenged Airmen across various Air Force specialty codes to embrace their role as defenders. A key focus was on weapons training and ground tactical operations, skills that many Airmen were introduced to for the first time. The blend of classroom instruction and intensive field exercises ensured Airmen could maintain operational readiness and meet mission objectives even under simulated attack conditions.
Staff Sgt. Rafael Avila, a 22nd ATF fire team leader, emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “Mission-ready Airmen training gives us the skills to fight through the worst situations and still come out strong. By understanding each other's roles, we enhance our collective knowledge and build a stronger, more collaborative team, allowing us to support one another more effectively and improve overall team performance. By training and adapting every day, we prepare ourselves to face any conflict the future holds.”
More than just individual skill enhancement, this exercise fostered a cohesive and resilient team, solidifying past training, embracing new challenges and demonstrating their reliability, resilience and readiness to protect our military's ability to defend our nation effectively.
“Combative training equips Airmen with the skills to protect themselves, their wingmen and the base through realistic scenarios that build confidence and weapon retention,” said Staff Sgt Mckenzie Glasper, 22nd ATF combative instructor. “Beyond strengthening our base defense, it fosters trust and resilience within our team, preparing us for deployments and duties at home.”
The exercise validated the ATF's ability to project, sustain and defend combat air power in a contested environment. By challenging Airmen from all backgrounds to embrace their role as warfighters, the exercise reinforced a culture of shared responsibility and empowered individuals to contribute to base defense.
“This field training exercise strips away comfort and routine, forcing team unity through discipline and trust, hardening warfighter resiliency,” said Col. William J. Watkins, 22nd ATF commander. “Out here, we learned base defense fundamentals, and that every Airmen is vital to defend the base, and projecting combat air power.”
By the conclusion of the training, all 22nd ATF Airmen will have demonstrated their ability to achieve resilient operations, maintain readiness and meet mission objectives under attack conditions, enabling them to project air power effectively across the globe.
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2025 14:25 |
| Story ID: | 549324 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 22nd Air Task Force sharpens warfighting edge with field training exercise, by SrA Samantha Thorn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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