710th SFS hit the dirt

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Desiree Economides
  • 310th Space Wing Public Affairs
CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo --  A layer of dust and crisp grass tumbled across the rolling countryside, as a team of Airmen armed with rifles and heavy backpacks descended from a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and took cover in the field.

Once the air cleared and the helicopter departed, the Airmen appeared, lying prone in an organized circle scoping out their surroundings through the sights on their weapons.
Such was the scene at the 710th Security Forces Squadron's inaugural field training exercise on April 1 at Camp Guernsey, Wyo.

The training objective: Enter into a mock Afghanistan village with known enemy activity, establish relationships with the locals and determine humanitarian needs.

"Today, we were putting our annually required training into practical application while identifying deficiencies for future instruction," said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Lyle, Junior AGR (Active Guard Reserve) 710th SFS.

To accomplish this training, the 710th partnered with the Colorado Army National Guard's 2- 135th General Support Aviation Battalion from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., for their transit and insertion into the exercise.

The 460th Security Forces Squadron, from Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., took part by playing the insurgents in the village, while the 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., provided medical support for real-world injuries.

"This was a great opportunity to work jointly with the Colorado National Guard, the 460th Security Forces and the 302nd," said Sergeant Lyle.

Although the field exercise was only a small part of the training weekend at Guernsey, it was a worthwhile exercise for many of the security forces Airmen.

"As a Reservist, you don't see each other much, so when you do it's about getting your computer-based training completed and catching up on what people have done since you last saw them," said Tech. Sgt. Donald Williams. "It's good to get in the dirt with your buddies, so you know when you are out in the real world you'll be safe."

The Security Forces Airmen worked on the skills they will use when deployed, performing duties such as clearing rooms, patrolling and establishing health and welfare of the village, to name a few. These skills are vital to field operations and need to be practiced regularly to maintain proficiency.

"The reality of having training like this is that it helps with team building and trust. You'll never get the reality of training until you go out there and do it, mess it up and then relearn it," said Staff Sgt. Mitch Armbruster.

Though this was the first major exercise for the 710th SFS, it is only one of many according to their commander, Capt. Donovan Cody.

"This was the first of many field training exercises I hope we have in partnership with our active duty security forces counterparts at the 460th and even with our fellow Reservists at the 310th security forces," said Captain Cody.