Photo By Airman 1st Class Macy Dismore-Mann | U.S. Senior Airman Zachery Leeder-Gesch, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive...... read more read more
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DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. — Phoenix Forge is a biennial Air Mobility Command combat readiness exercise and was conducted at Dover Air Force Base for the first time, Aug. 24-28, 2026.
Phoenix Forge 26 was a five-day exercise designed to place Airmen in an austere, simulated deployed environment under high-stress conditions while testing their ability to operate together and respond to changing battlefield situations. The exercise also focused on the basics of Tactical Combat Casualty Care, base defense, and a variety of other combat oriented skills.
Thirty Air Mobility Command Airmen from different AMC bases participated in the exercise that was designed to take them outside their normal routines.
Participants faced simulated explosions, fatalities and other injects designed to test their ability to adapt and overcome.
“Phoenix Forge 26 was designed to meet the AMC commander’s intent to be more lethal and skillful for the next high-end fight, utilizing agile combat employment and mission-ready Airmen,” said Master Sgt. Emilio Garza, Phoenix Forge cadre.
Upon arrival at the exercise location, participants were expected to establish and operate from their location while responding to changing mission requirements, security threats and other simulated scenarios.
“We’re looking to get them in a high-stress environment and see how they’re interacting,” said Garza. “(We’re) putting these Airmen into different positions, whether it be leading or following and teaching them how to react.”
Individuals from various career fields possessing different levels of experience and skill sets, were given one day of classroom instruction. The cadre’s goal was to bring the Airmen together and teach them how to operate as one team.
“I initially expected we would get to learn what other career fields do, and then we would try to blend together to form one team,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Winston, Phoenix Forge 26 participant.
For five days, participants lived in field conditions while responding to simulated air and ground attacks, treating live actors and mannequins portraying casualties and adapting to changing mission requirements. The scenarios were designed to create the uncertainty and pressure of a deployed environment while testing the Airmen’s ability to apply their training.
Over the course of the week, the strongest teams were formed when the leaders recognized those differences and used each person’s experience to accomplish the mission.
“When leaders used our different experiences — those were our best teams,” said Staff Sgt. Alexandria Chung, Phoenix Forge 26 participant.
Despite the long hours and difficult conditions, teamwork became especially important as fatigue began to set in, making participants rely on one another to maintain morale and accomplish the mission.
“It was so cool just being in the tent and laughing with everybody,” said Winston. “Everybody had a great attitude — constant jokes and laughs — and great camaraderie.”
By the end of the exercise, the group that arrived as individuals had developed into a unified team capable of operating together under pressure.
“And throughout all the injects and simulated explosions and fatalities, they focused and got their job done,” said Garza. “They are multi-capable. They are able to do multiple things not only within their Air Force Specialty Code but outside to get the mission done.”
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2026 10:44 |
| Story ID: | 574074 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DELAWARE, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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