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Shaw Airmen shine in exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Williams
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  More than 350 Airmen from 18 different Air Force bases, including 50 Airmen from Shaw, recently returned from an exercise at which they simulated providing humanitarian relief and fighting terrorism. 

Five Shaw Airmen were recognized for their performance during the exercise, known as Eagle Flag, held Oct. 12 to 20 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station near McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

The recognized Airmen were: Senior Airman Benjamin Zaleski, 20th Communications Squadron; Staff Sgt. Michael Lewis, 609th Air Communications Squadron; Airman 1st Class Tyler Lynch, 609th ACOMS; Staff Sgt. William Brown, 609th ACOMS, and Senior Airman Ronald Yaskovic, 20th CS. 

During Eagle Flag, Airmen "deployed" to a fictional country and built a fully functional air base, called Camp Warbird, from scratch. Not only did they put up temporary structures, they also posted security patrols, established communications and fended off aggressors. 

To make Eagle Flag as realistic as possible, several Airmen participated as role players. Playing villagers, news media, terrorists and protestors, they interacted with the "deployed" Airmen during several scenarios.

Col. Glenn Lang, the 5th Mission Support Group commander at Minot AFB, N.D. and Camp Warbird's commander during Eagle Flag, said the most rewarding aspect of the exercise was seeing all the Airmen come together as one cohesive unit. 

"Our Air Force is lucky to have individuals with a sense of dedication to the mission that transcends the elements when the pressure is on," Colonel Lang said. "The Airmen at Eagle Flag were no exception to that and the will to succeed in our mission made them overcome the nasty weather and the initial living conditions." 

Lt. Col. Lisa McColgan, the 5th Services commander and Eagle Flag deputy group commander, agreed.

"The focus of today's Air Force is expeditionary, and many of our most important missions take place in a deployed location," she said. "To ensure success, the Air Force has developed the Eagle Flag exercise.

"Eagle Flag is a very realistic and excellent field training exercise allowing expeditionary Airmen the opportunity to test their ability to open and establish an air base and provide initial command and control," Colonel McColgan said. "Not only are participants totally reliant upon themselves to succeed, but they are also thrown into scenarios which challenge the flexibility of the planning team." 

Establishing a bare base is no easy feat, Colonel McColgan said. Setting up billeting, supplies and communication are difficult enough, but the Eagle Flag participants had to complete their mission through very harsh conditions.

 "Challenges were abundant with below-freezing temperatures, rain, mud and exhaustion testing our team, but throughout the entire exercise, wingmen took care of one another and overcame all obstacles," Colonel McColgan said.

Wingmen taking care of one another equals teamwork, which was the key ingredient to the success of Eagle Flag, Colonel McColgan said. 

Eagle Flag had amazing results. The communications team itself was commended as the best communications support team seen to date over 15 exercises, said Maj. Chad Raduege, 336th Communications Squadron commander, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.