MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — Traditionally, the 219th SFS would conduct all its training in one location, such as the Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC), near Devils Lake, N.D. However, this year, supplemental training was held at Minot AFB, N.D., and Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minn., which collectively facilitated the accomplishment of specific training requirements unique to the mission of nuclear missile field security.
The split-location training afforded Airmen the opportunity to fire the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, the M249 light machine gun, the M240 machine gun and the Mk 19 grenade launcher at Camp Ripley, and the M4 rifle and M9 pistol at the CGTC. It also enabled Airmen and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) to further their leadership development by providing more opportunities to lead across multiple locations.
“One of our big pushes is non-commissioned officer development,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Frankl, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron. “This type of training provides our new Airmen and NCOs the opportunity to implement leadership skills and develop them a little more by separating them.”
Defenders from the 219th also participated in force-on-force training at Minot AFB, incorporating UH-1N Huey helicopters and BearCat armored personnel vehicles.
(Note: This article includes 8 photos)
