459th Airmen strenghten skills to survive, operate

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sophia Piellusch
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  Members of the 459th Air Refueling Wing reported for Ability to Survive and Operate skills training during the February Unit Training Assembly here, Feb. 12.

The 459th Logistics Readiness Squadron took on the task of coordinating the training which helped to prepare the wing for the Operational Readiness Exercise in March. The two-day skills enhancement course began on Saturday night with nighttime operations and continued through Sunday where students trained on ATSO skills and chemical warfare drills.

Numerous squadrons participated in the first round of training, which began Saturday night. They simulated the training on night shift.

The 459th Maintenance Squadron on the flightline practiced as if they were generating an airplane, the medical squadron loaded equipment on the aircraft, and the security forces squadron set up a command and control facility for security operations.

" Nighttime operations are a little bit more challenging," said Col. Gary W. Dickinson, 459th ARW vice commander. "Darkness creates a few more obstacles and members get a feel for what it's like do their job responsibilities in the dark, and in protective gear."

After the training on Saturday night, additional members trained on Sunday.

The Sunday instruction offered two training blocks occurring simultaneously. Each training session was limited to 45 minutes and approximately 300 members participated.

Block one training included chemical gear inspection, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordinances, and how to avoid being chemically contaminated. Block two training followed up with specialized ATSO classes and mission oriented protective posture gear drills, post-attack reconnaissance team procedures and moving contaminated casualties.

Some of the details instructors looked for as Airmen practiced the medical portion of the training was proper lifting techniques, being able to secure the patient, and giving proper commands throughout the exercise.

"I instruct members on proper technique when moving contaminated casualties and how to strap-in an injured patient onto a litter and lift them correctly while in a combat zone," said Staff Sgt. Monika Gonzalez, instructor for the exercise from the 459th ARW Aero-medical Staging squadron.

After the medical training, the students moved on to the chemical drills.

The Airmen paired up utilizing the buddy system to ensure proper wear of the MOPP gear. The gear consists of a protective chemical suit, gas mask, gloves, and boots. MOPP gear is worn in four levels of protection against nuclear, biological and chemical attacks. Level four is the greatest protection with all the gear on at once.

After the group was in full MOPP level four, the instructor made them do push-ups.

"The reason we have them do push-ups in the suits is because the majority of the Airmen have a career field which requires them to move around often while they perform their duties," said Staff Sgt. Evans Francis, ATSO instructor from 459th LRS. "The last thing we want to happen is for the seal on the mask to break or the suit to ride up on the arms and cause contamination."

Having adequate knowledge and skills are important for training exercises, as well as having a positive attitude.

"I saw some great training and efforts during this exercise," said Dickinson. "A good attitude will go a long way."