YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Members of the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, travelled to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, in November to conduct operational combat training in the second iteration of the three-phase “Buckeye” training exercises.
“Exercises are essential in sustaining a lethal, ready force capable of mobilizing and deploying effectively,” said Senior Master Sgt. Shelby Perkins, 910th AW Inspector General superintendent. “In a controlled environment like Buckeye II, Airmen can get a feel for a heightened threat environment as well as identify any risk areas.”
Senior leaders at the 910th AW structured the Buckeye exercises to simulate wartime environments while using a “crawl, walk, run”approach to specific Task Qualification Training. By doing so, 910th members were able to check off their TQTs while clinching valuable hands-on training that could not be conducted at home station.
“Security forces, force support and civil engineer squadrons are unable to assess many of their TQTs at home station,” Perkins said.
“Dobbins ARB has many of the facilities, space and equipment to allow those squadrons to perform their specific TQTs.”
TQT training is conducted while Airmen wear Mission-Oriented Protective Posture 4 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear gear. Airmen train with MOPP 4 CBRN gear on to ensure their ability to perform wartime mission-essential tasks during an attack.
“The overall purpose of this exercise was to assess and validate the operational readiness of the 910th AW,” Perkins said. “During Buckey II, we evaluated how effectively the wing can generate, sustain and deploy in a contested environment.”
“Buckeye II demonstrated what the civil engineer team looks like in action as a one-unit team despite being made up of many different shops,” said Staff Sgt. Jasmine Handy, an operations management specialist with the 910th Civil Engineer Squadron. “Throughout the exercise, it became clear how each shop relies on one another to accomplish their specific task and the overall mission.”