189th AW deploys to Camp Warlord for annual training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
War skills and ancillary training were the focus of the 189th Airlift Wing's annual training session June 3-11 as its members prepare for Air Expeditionary Force deployments later this year.
About 200 members deployed to Camp Warlord June 3-4 and spent the night in the camp's field conditions, living nearly as they would in a deployed environment. Their day started with a 5 a.m. show time June 3, M-16 rifle and mobility gear issue and a one-hour flight over central Arkansas before an engine-running offload at the alert ramp on the East end of the runway.
During the two-day deployment, members fought off enemy attacks, practiced self-aid buddy care and suited up in chemical warfare gear.
"The timing for our annual training was perfect this year," said Col. Dwight Balch, 189th Airlift Wing commander. "Our AEF bucket begins this fall, and this was a superb opportunity to accomplish refresher training on all of the Air Force's annual requirements."
Guard units typically use their annual training sessions to meet Air Force training objectives because it's the one time of the year that nearly every Airman is on base. From supervisor safety training to law of armed conflict training and level-one records management training, wing members received mass briefings on a host of topics. In addition, web-based training, such as information assurance ensured wing Airmen could keep their computer workstation privileges.
To liven up this year's training schedule, units competed in war skills competitions in 9-mm pistol and M-16 rifle firing contests, temper tent construction, 9-mm and M-16 tear down competitions, physical fitness testing and the obstacle course. The overall winner this year, was the 189th Operations Group, which took first-place finishes in the 9-mm and M-16 tear down and physical fitness scores. The group also finished second in the 9-mm and M-16 firing contest and fourth in the obstacle course.
Lt. Col. Rick Oxner, 189th Mission Support Group deputy commander, was the project officer for this year's annual training and was responsible for the combat edge the training provided.
He said this year's training helped build not only morale within each unit but friendly rivalries between units, too. At commander's call June 10, he told wing members they took every challenge in stride.
While the wing was focused on training, the wing's aircrew training mission didn't stop. Aircrew members continued to churn out C-130 instructor candidates, making time between flights to support the wing's mobility training.