Wyoming Air National Guard force support squadron airmen from the 153rd Airlift Wing teamed up with their 90th Missile Wing active duty counterparts to complete a week of training Aug. 7 – 11 here.
A few of the classes taught during the week included building shelters, setting up field kitchens, and search and rescue. The goal was to get the active duty FSS personnel ready for their deployment later this year by learning from Wyoming ANG airmen who recently returned from a deployment.
The Wyoming ANG is required to conduct this type of training every year, but this is the first time they have included their active duty counterparts from F.E. Warren.
“This one was unique” said Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Ramirez, 153rd sustainment services superintendent. “The underlying goal really was the joint training with the 90th, to create that relationship with the 90th. We are a mile apart from each other. We wear the same uniform. We are doing the same jobs. So we should be training together.”
The goal of the annual training is to prepare airmen to be ready to build support services from the ground up once they are deployed. FSS ensures airmen will have a place to eat and sleep if they find themselves in a location without any infrastructure.
“This training is important because FSS plays a vital role downrange when it comes to building a bare base,” said Master Sgt. Jeffrey White, 90th FSS readiness noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “As soon as it’s ‘boots to ground’ at a deployed location, FSS duties range from building and managing lodging, personnel accountability, field feeding operations, and contingency mortuary, just to name a few.
The 153rd has already integrated with the active duty FSS at F.E. Warren Air Force Base for certain functions. When the Air Guard had members deployed their dining facility was temporarily closed. So guard members were allowed to use F.E. Warren’s Chadwell dining facility. Ramirez says his airmen have been cooking and serving meals alongside active duty for the last couple months. The guard wing also uses the fitness facilities at F.E. Warren for fitness assessments. This total force interaction is seen as a definite positive by both sides.
“The benefits for training with the Wyoming Air National Guard were being able to share experiences and learn from one another,” said White. “This training also gave a better understanding for both squadrons the difference between each other’s duty and what they both bring to the fight. The Total Force concept is important because we all are living the ‘one team, one fight’ motto when we put on that Air Force uniform every morning. Training together and executing the duties to support the mission is a testament to that.”
The Air National Guard agrees.
“Everyone is onboard with the total force concept,” said Ramirez.