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Airmen excel during exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jensen Stidham
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Airmen from across the 20th Fighter Wing participated in an operational readiness exercise here, May 5 and 6, simulating a deployment to "Base X."

Because Airmen train like they fight on a daily basis, not much changed for some as each unit geared up for the exercise.

"During an exercise our mission is basically the same," said Senior Airman James Hafner, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion technician." I am still in here building up engines and tearing down engines like I normally would."

As each phase of the exercise was executed Airmen had to react to injects consisting of scenarios that could happen in an actual deployed environment.

"When we get injects we have to stop what we are doing and act accordingly," said Hafner. "Whether its alarm red or someone just hands you an inject you have to stop working. It can be challenging at times when you're right in the middle of doing something but that's how it would be in a deployed environment."

While challenges occurred as designed, the exercise put Airmen to the test.

"The exercise tested our wartime readiness," said Lt. Col. Michael Clapper, 79th Fighter Squadron pilot. "We have to know how to execute the mission according to its design."

Not only did the exercise test Airmen, it tested their equipment as well.

"We have to be ready for anything," said Clapper. "It tests our operation readiness as well as all of our aircrafts ability."

Airmen of all ranks worked through the exercise and worked together to overcome challenges.

"It's a nice change of pace," said Hafner. "Some people don't really enjoy having an exercise but I really liked it."