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Shaw conducts ORE Weasel Victory 17-07

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Maldonado
  • 20th Fighter Wing
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE --  Airmen assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing participated in operational readiness exercise Weasel Victory 17-07, May 15-17.

Weasel Victory occurs several times annually at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. Airmen received the opportunity to participate both on base and at Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, near Wedgefield, S.C. At these locations Airmen performed their respective jobs in simulated deployed environments.

The three-day, 72-hour exercise, presented the 20th FW an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to employ forces and practice combat readiness.

“Long days and long nights are a guarantee for us,” said Staff Sgt. Edwin Velez, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics journeyman. “But opportunities like these give us the chance to put our skills to the test and be ready should we deploy in the future.”

These simulated conditions ranged from fires and destroyed buildings, to victims being ambushed and targeted by threats.

With the deployed environment being unpredictable, a group of Airmen serving as Wing Inspection Team members ran all scenarios for the exercises. WIT members provided “injects” which are circumstances intended to test their respective unit’s proficiency to changing conditions.

“Our job during exercises is to evaluate our unit’s Airmen,” said Staff Sgt. Erica Jones, 20th Security Forces Squadron standards and evaluations technician. “If we see an Airman not performing proper procedures, we will correct it and ensure that they do the task correctly.”

These exercises are intended to help prepare Airmen for deployed environments and ensure they are primed to execute the 20th FW mission through combat readiness.