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Deployed Airmen, Soldiers conduct joint convoy training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Deployed security forces Airmen provided tactical convoy training for Army personnel here Oct. 28, giving the Soldiers the opportunity to learn from Airmen with first-hand experience.

Airmen from the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron conducted a tactical convoy training battle drill with the Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Charlie Battery, which covered threat response for things like improvised explosive devices and ambushers as well as wounded-Soldier evacuations and procedures for sending reports up to appropriate channels.

"As a Patriot battery, a substantial part of our mission is mobility," said Army 1st Lt. Christopher Easley, a tactical control officer with 3-4 ADAR, C Battery. "At a moment's notice we must be prepared to move in a tactical convoy facing real world threats. It is important for Soldiers to learn the most current tactics being used in theater, and be proficient in overcoming any threat."

For the men and women at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, and their mission partners from the Army, this kind of joint training is common.

"By involving the Air Force security forces and [explosive ordnance disposal teams], my platoon was able to receive excellent training from Airmen who have recently lived through many of these scenarios in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Easley.

The Army requested this training from the 380th ESFS, and the two teams have been planning this training exercise for nearly a month.

This battle drill was a culmination of a month of smaller battle drills where the Charlie Battery focused on each specific area of response.

"The security forces training staff sent them a few drills we came up with that we utilized while in Baghdad (Iraq) to get them in the mindset of how to respond," said Tech. Sgt. Anthony Harris, the NCO in charge of training for the 380th ESFS. "We then came out and led the big drill for the battery to offer an objective viewpoint. Their responses were almost text book. It was evident they took the information we presented and utilized it to their advantage while making it their own."

Harris and his staff bring a wealth of knowledge to the training scenario.

"Fortunately, my staff and I have real world outside-the-wire convoy experience and were able to bring a realistic aspect to the training," Harris said.

For the Soldiers, the training gave them a chance to perform a new skill set many that many may not utilize on a regular basis.

"The scenarios were very well thought out and orchestrated," Easley said. "The threats were simulated accurately and gave the Soldiers a great idea of what they might have to face at any point in their careers. They were able to share some of their personal experiences and effectively relay to the Soldiers where they succeeded and struggled."

The convoy joint training was one of a series of training exercises conducted between Airmen and Soldiers here.

"The best part is being able to work together with the Air Force to accomplish a mission," Easley said. "Any time we can participate in a joint exercise, it turns out to be a great event."

Conducting the training gives Harris and his Airmen a chance to continue learning as well.

"We are gracious the Army and Air Force can link up and train for interoperability purposes," Harris said. "Though security forces led the battle drills, I believe we all learned from one another and will continue to do so in the future."