This exercise was designed to evaluate and refine tactical movements that have been instilled over the past several months, ensuring Defenders are prepared for a deployed environment.
“The 21st Security Forces Squadron is honing foundational warfighting skills,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Andrew Hill, 21st SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of training. “These tactics are critical to SBD 1’s support during possible real-world operations across the world.”
Hill collaborated with his fellow trainers in the 21st SFS, including Tech. Sgt. Esteban Goniwicha, 21st SFS unit trainer, to plan the exercise. Hill and Goniwicha both have prior experience as pre-deployment instructors. Their valuable expertise ensures the Defenders of the 21st SFS are a lethal fighting force.
“Defenders need to stay ready,” Goniwicha said. “We need to stay lethal and able to combat any threat we come across.”
That’s exactly what the unit trainers from the 21st SFS reinforced throughout this exercise.
Tech. Sgt. Esteban Goniwicha, 21st SFS unit trainer
Master Sgt. Peter Patera, 21st SFS NCOIC of weapons and tactics, was also critical to planning this exercise. Both Patera and Hill have gone through the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course.
“Master Sgt. Patera and I are part of a very limited number in our career field, less than 1%.” Hill said about graduating from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course.
For this exercise, the Defenders were given multiple locations to visit, acting upon intelligence that needed investigating. The end goal was to set up a Forward Arming and Refueling Point, more commonly known as a “FARP.” This is a scenario that Defenders could encounter during Agile Combat Employment operations.
While en route to the FARP, the Defenders received intelligence from a “local farmer” — someone acting as a local in a deployed environment — of militia presence. The militia was reported to have planted bombs in the area. The Defenders were tasked with investigating the intelligence.
During this part of the training, the Defenders experienced what it was like to work in a joint environment with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight.
After simulating the explosion of an improvised explosive device, the Defenders had to provide Tactical Combat Casualty Care to a wounded member of the EOD flight. After doing this, they called in a nine-line casualty medical evacuation and transported the wounded individual on a collapsible litter.
“Tactical Combat Casualty Case is a major benefit for anyone who holds that knowledge, as they can provide life-saving care to anyone around them.” said Tech. Sgt. Tyler Bacon, 21st SFS NCOIC of investigation. Bacon is one of the TCCC instructors for Space Base Delta 1. “This exercise gave our Defenders hands-on experience to further build on their TCCC skillset.”
After this, the team pushed on and successfully established the FARP.
“We’re having to adapt and learn different ways to deal with the strategies that our enemies are employing,” said Master Sgt. Joshua Aleprete, 21st SFS individual mobilization augmentee superintendent. “This exercise is about not only learning but also putting it to the test.”
Beyond bolstering base security, the skills that the Defenders demonstrated during this exercise are transferable to both defensive and offensive operations. By incorporating lessons learned from prior Explosive Ordnance Disposal training events, the Defenders of the 21st SFS enhanced their ability to operate effectively in changing environments and demonstrated consistent military excellence and readiness.
- Published
- By Senior Airman Justin Todd
- Space Base Delta 1 Public Affairs
