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Exercise deemed a success

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Champagne, and Senior Airmen John Gordinier and Holly MacDonald
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE, S.C. --  Exercise officials here deemed last week's operational readiness exercise, in which Airmen tested their ability to operate at a deployed location in Southwest Asia, a success.

"I am pleased that we met our goal of zero real-world injuries during this intense two-day period and we successfully flew a robust flying schedule even after the end of the exercise," said Col. Michael Byrne, 20th Fighter Wing vice commander, about Sea Lion 07-02 held Dec. 5-6.

The wing performed well during the exercise despite two new changes: a compressed schedule and the formation of a "super squadron," said Maj. Todd Hamilton, 20th FW Exercise and Inspections chief.

The exercise was shortened from four to two days to match Air Combat Command's evaluation objectives during an operational readiness inspection. "It seemed that the wing took the advice and got off to a fast pace," Major Hamilton said.

The 55th and the 79th flying squadrons combined capabilities to become a "super-squadron" and this, too, appeared to have been successful, said Capt. Jason Mooney, 20th FW Inspections chief.

"Many comments were made that they should do it again in the future if one squadron is short on manning because it went so well," Captain Mooney said.

According to Major Hamilton, the exercise was successful in terms of conducting the kind of training the wing needs to do to remain mission capable. During the exercise Airmen honed their career field-specific skills in a simulated deployed environment and refined tactics needed to survive and operate after chemical, biological and conventional attacks.

"Overseas, everything is at a faster pace," said Tech. Sgt. Roosevelt Terry, 79th Aircraft Maintenance Unit aircraft electrical and environmental craftsman, who has deployed 16 times.

"The exercise gets people in the right mindset for a deployment; it gets them up to speed. For this exercise, 40 to 45 sorties were added to our daily numbers. On a regular duty day we fly more than 20 sorties," Sergeant Terry said.

Each Airman benefits from the exercise for different reasons, depending on his or her job, Sergeant Terry said. Crew chiefs experience shorter flights with longer hours and weapons specialists actually load munitions. Even if the faster pace is the only difference, the exercise brings out the deployed aspects of each career field, he said.

Medical personnel also performed their deployed duties during the exercise.
During the exercise, medical personnel performed triage and took care of patients, whether it was fixing their injury or saving their life, said Lt. Col. Gianna Zeh, 20th Medical Group medical staff chief.

"We treat patients in two ways: minimal wounds and aerovac, or serious wounds," the colonel said.

"Minimal wounds such as small cuts or blisters are treated and then the Airman is returned to duty," Colonel Zeh said. "If an Airman suffers serious wounds we evacuate him out of the theater because we don't have the capabilities (at the deployed location) to take care of him properly."

Even with all these success, there is still room for improvement, Major Hamilton said.

"One of the most important areas requiring improvement is the flow of information," Major Hamilton said.

"Another problem area was the lack of people responding in a realistic manner. Without that, wing leadership can not make decisions and generate sorties in a challenging environment," Major Hamilton said.

"The exercise is like the pre-season of football," Sergeant Terry said. "It gets everyone ready for wartime."