Preparing for the future

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Rizzo
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The 916th Logistics Readiness Squadron here has a jumpstart on training that is preparing them for the next Operational Readiness Inspection, scheduled to take place June 2011.

The training, which has been officially dubbed, "Steppin' to '11," began July 14 during the unit training assembly and will continue once a month until the inspection takes place.

"The purpose of the inspection is to gauge how ready the unit is to go to war," said Lt. Col. Jayne E. Jackson, the operations officer for the 916th LRS. "All the way down from immunizations, to war skills, to Air Force specialty code training. It's about teamwork, camaraderie and it's about readiness.

"If you see a reservist once a month 12 times ... it's going to go quickly," said Colonel Jackson. "So, Steppin' to '11 needs to start now if we're going to make incremental progress in our training."

Each UTA, the reservists spend four hours training for the inspection. Much of the training takes place at the Expeditionary Combat Skills Training Site, where Airmen practice weapons familiarization, nuclear, biological and chemical defense and other combat skills. The NBC training requires 916th LRS Airmen to practice performing their jobs while wearing mission oriented protective posture gear. MOPP gear includes a gas mask with a hood, rubber gloves and boots and a protective coat and trousers. There are various MOPP levels, which call for different amounts of the protective gear to be worn. These Airmen wear the gear while performing tasks like driving and operating various types of vehicles and fighting off "enemy combatants," which are simulated by role players. They also must protect vehicles and supply assets from contamination.

"The training becomes embedded as a normal thought process" said Master Sgt. Chris H. Burket, the 916th LRS logistics supply manager. "It's important that it becomes second nature because we have more people on the ground now. We send a lot of transportation people to do convoys."

Because the Air Force focuses on ground operations more now than
ever, the training has become more vital.

"The Air Force is changing drastically," said Master Sgt. Gregory A. Nelson, the logistics plans superintendent for the 916th LRS. "Fundamental warfighting skills are being taught beginning at a lower level now. So those of us who've been here forever and a day - we have some catching up to do.

"We're not just flyers anymore," added Sergeant Nelson. "We're out there fighting alongside the Army."

These evolutionary changes have affected the inspection criteria. There is so much more included now, such as academics, said Colonel Jackson.

"So here you are in MOPP Four with all your gear on, you're sweating to death, and some inspector's in your face asking you questions," said Lt. Col. Jackson. "If you can't practice thinking of the answers, you're not going to make it. So if we step lively now, and we train incrementally toward 2011, we can make the dance very smooth.

"I liken it to an orchestra," added Colonel Jackson. "If everybody plays their part, then when we all come together, you can hear the music."