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Texas reservists first in to support Patriot Warrior

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Denise Haeussler
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  Approximately 30 Air Force Reservists from the 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron here deployed to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, to launch Exercise Patriot Warrior 2014, April 26 - May 8.

"This is a premier event for training, not an exercise or inspection" said Ralph Browning, an Air Force Reserve Command fire protection specialist and exercise deputy director. "This year CE is involved to take care of bare base bed down, sustainment and redeploy. It's a chance for personnel to get hands-on experience, skills, and training not available at home station."

"In past years, this exercise was Operation Global Medic, focused on moving injured war fighters out of a war zone to a higher echelon of care," said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Pittman, Aeromedical Evacuation, Operations and Training superintendent at Headquarters AFRC, and exercise director. "It has been refocused to Exercise Patriot Warrior, an air component integration exercise to move equipment and supplies for all involved. We are supporting a 5,000 personnel Army force by establishing a full air base on a dirt air assault strip."

According to Browning, this is the first time the command's CE is participating in and supporting an exercise of this caliber. In the past, it was Army support, but wartime missions have exceeded soldier capability to support a forward operating base.

"The 433rd CE was chosen as the test bed by the AFRC Prime Beef superintendent based on performance and results from our last operational readiness and compliance inspections where we scored an excellent on both." said Capt. David Shaw, 433rd Operations Flight commander.

CE were first on the ground and arrived to an empty field; a bare base. CE personnel included engineering assistance, structures, electricians, utilities, heating ventilation and air conditioning, fire fighters, and operations.

Within 72 hours CE turned a bare base into a FOB to support 500 Air Force personnel who provided support to the Army as a force multiplier once the exercise kicked off May 7.

"AFRC is supporting the Army in real world wartime missions," said Browning. "This exercise is as close to real world operations as it gets. It's the final training that takes place before a deployment; it's the report card to see if service members are ready to deploy."

"The first few days were rough with cold, rainy weather, no heat, limited food and clean water. My guys got right to work, not only setting up the camp for themselves to live comfortable, but also getting it ready for the main body. Main players showed up to heated tents with power, hot food and warm showers. Morale was high throughout, and I could not be more proud of the work generated by these Airmen," said Shaw.