JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C -- Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina participated in a week-long readiness exercise that began Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020 and concluded Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020.
The exercise was designed to help Reservists gain valuable skills necessary for possible missions or deployments around the world.
“These types of exercises help us become more aware of what we could encounter down range,” said Staff Sgt. Charnise Jackson, aerospace medical services journeyman, 315th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. “Not all of us have been deployed, so these types of events allow us to take back crucial information to other members who weren’t able to attend with crucial information that can help with the success of the mission.”
While Jackson also trained during the exercise, she said that she played a role in making sure that all members involved with the exercise had the correct personal protective gear and were adhering to the correct CDC guidelines in regards to COVID-19.
The exercise involved multiple squadrons throughout the wing in order to help with cohesiveness for future missions.
“Members of the 38th Aerial Port Squadron are getting hands-on experience with cargo uploads and cargo downloads in a different setting than normal,” said Tech. Sgt. Edward Hysaw, Team Chief, 38th Aerial Port Squadron. “ This positions us to be mission ready with anything that needs to be transported on an aircraft and helps us develop a bond with other Reservists during the exercise.”
By preparing with a live exercise, Reservists become comfortable with scenarios and situations they may encounter during an actual mission. They learn how to overcome obstacles they may face prior to executing a real-world mission itself, which helps with higher mission success rates downrange.
“This exercise is giving us valuable training with equipment that we actually use downrange,” said Master Sgt. Gary Lamb, command post specialist with the 315th Contingency Response Flight. “Being able to train with the equipment we would use in a deployed environment helps us be prepared and ready.”
Exercises, like the one accomplished last week, provide crucial training and enhance skills Reservists need prior to going downrange and integrating with their active duty counterparts to accomplish future missions and ensuring success.