Expeditionary exercise trains Security Forces

By 446th Airlift Wing PA on September 29, 2016

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - As part of a large-scale Field Training Exercise put together by the 446th Security Forces Squadron, more than 50 members from Joint Base Lewis-McChord conducted a large-scale Field Training Exercise Sept. 8-11.

Held over the September Unit Training Assembly, the exercise included U.S. Army aviation assets as well as medical personnel.

Planners designed the exercise to challenge Security Forces operators to perform expeditionary skills including urban operations, base defense operations, entry control point operations, and key leader engagements.

In a video interview, Capt. Ryan Bradley, 446th SFS commander, explained, "we did the exercise to highlight what we do in an expeditionary environment so we can recognize our strengths and learn what we need to improve upon in the future."

The exercise also demonstrated how reservists maximize their training time to accomplish critical deployment training tasks.

"During the UTAs, we're always crunched on time," said Tech. Sgt. Peter Ahn, 446th SFS NCO. "For us to come out here and do hands-on training, it just shows what we're capable of doing and how we maximize our time."

From rifleman to being squad member, we all have our different roles we need to practice, and this exercise gave us the opportunity to do that, said Bradley.

The training included scenarios that the citizen airmen might encounter while deployed.

Learning how to identify Improvised Explosive Devices and patrolling in convoys in and around makeshift training villages were important elements of the training.

The citizen airmen even participated in an impromptu ambush exercise utilizing laser technology to test their ability to work as a team and overcome opposition forces.