459 ARW takes part in readiness training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber Russell-Ford
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md --  459th Air Refueling Wing Airmen participated in Ability to Survive and Operate and readiness training Feb. 3-5 here.

The required training prepared the wing for exercises and an upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection to be conducted by the Air Mobility Command Inspector General in 2012.

Maj. Justin O'Brien, 459th Logistics Readiness Flight commander, helped manage the training and worked with different units like the 459th Aerospace Medicine Squadron and 459th Force Support Squadron to ensure the entire wing could focus on the classes.

"The wing commander's intent was that all personnel participate in the training and exercises while keeping normal Unit Training Assembly duties to a single day instead of two," Major O'Brien said. "We had to coordinate to restrict activities like medical appointments and fitness testing, so I'm thankful for the great cooperation from the 459 AMDS and the 459 FSS."

In order to determine the type of training components, Major O'Brien coordinated efforts with many different individuals, including Airmen from the Emergency Management staff. 14 different courses resulted from that coordination, which familiarized servicemembers with scenarios they may be faced with in deployed and Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare environments.

For two of the three days, 459 ARW Airmen took part in the training courses, which included Self Aid and Buddy Care basics, identifying Unexploded Ordinance, contamination avoidance and how to build sandbag bunkers.

According to Staff Sgt. Evans Francis, 459 ARW emergency program manager, the intent of the training was not to certify Airmen on the items, but to keep them familiarized on the readiness scenarios and how to properly access their Airman's Manual when needed.

"I helped develop the ATSO training classes directly from the Airman's Manual. I thought it was important for personnel who are tasked to participate in future exercises to get a general level of training like this," Sergeant Francis said.

Senior Airman Joseph Taylor, 459 ARW financial management specialist, was one of 700 Airmen who participated in the training. He said he felt the scenarios prepared him more than just for future exercises.

"I think that these training classes are very informative because you never know when you could be faced with a hazardous situation in a deployed setting or during peacetime," Airman Joseph said.

Following the 14 ATSO and readiness training courses, 459 ARW Airmen were given the opportunity to put their new techniques into practice when the wing transitioned to a culminating exercise on Feb. 5 of the UTA. Scenarios like responding to missile attacks and donning chemical warfare suits for an extended period of time were presented to the Airmen throughout the day.

As the wing continues to train for additional exercises and the 2012 ORI, the knowledge they receive will ultimately ensure they are prepared for scenarios many servicemembers have been experiencing on real-world deployments.