Camp Warlord gears up for new training

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Beth Orlen
  • 314th Airlift Wing Strategic Information Flight
In the world of deployments, you never know when a bit of training will be the difference between life or death.
That's why the officials at Camp Warlord revved up the level of their pre-deployment training and by training the trainers first.
"This year we have 60 CADRE (trainers), (who) will be able to work closer than ever with the 'deployed' Airmen as they go through Camp Warlord," said 1st Lt. Nathan Shirey, 314th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness Flight commander.
This is a change from last year when the team had fewer trainers to split up, evaluate and mentor the participants, he said.
This one-on-one approach is key to the success of the camp's mission.
"(It) allows the wing to train its personnel in a more realistic environment, thus improving their war fighting capabilities while providing top-notch training, leading to the protection of our most valuable asset ... our Airmen," said Lieutenant Shirey.
This four-day, three-night training course provides multi-functional contingency and war fighting skills training for our deploying forces, with the goal of improving survivability and awareness at forward locations, both individually and as part of a joint team.
It also brings together all required Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and ancillary training requirements into a streamlined training event allowing maximum training efficiency prior to deployment, according to Camp Warlord officials.
This training is provided by some of the base's experts in the field, with a little tweeking.
"All CADRE have attended a week of training covering all aspects of Camp Warlord, such as weapons familiarization, vehicle training, night vision goggle night operations, self-aid buddy care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, MILES gear, individual and team movements skills and Introductory training on convoy operations," said Tech. Sgt. Jim Todd, Camp Warlord commandant.
Between now and the middle of December, approximately 125 camp attendees will get trained in various fields, such as the law of armed conflict, force protection familiarization, explosive ordinance recognition, weapons issue, small arms familiarization, combat skills, life-saving training and air base defense.
But if you are struggling with taking four days out of your schedule, take the advice from Sergeant Todd who has deployed before.
"It's important training because in today's Air Force we are deployed to a lot of areas that we've never been before, and experiencing a lot of new threats," he said. "And for those who haven't deployed yet, it gives them a chance to see, touch and taste what it may be like at a deployed location."
Camp Warlord officials said that getting a feel for deployment life isn't the final goal of the program, it's bigger than that.
"We want people to take the training seriously," said Lieutenant Shirey. "The last commandant had people come back after deployments to Iraq and thank him personally, because what they learned at Camp Warlord saved their lives."
Sergeant Todd agrees.
"We want to ensure our Airmen return to their families and loved ones safely at the end of their deployment."