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JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Students with the
Air Advisor Academy here took part in a field training
exercise (FTX) Feb. 1, 2013, here.
Air Advisor Academy students enter a building for cover against enemy fire Feb. 1, 2013, on the ranges at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., as part of their field training exercise. The range facilities replicate an urban environment students may encounter downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry)
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The FTX is the culmination of all the expeditionary skills
and language, region and cultural knowledge the 28 students
have gained during their time at the academy.
“When
they first come to the academy, they are unsure of
themselves,” said Col. J. Olaf Holm, Air Advisor Academy
commandant. “During the month they are here, we try to
recreate the conditions they will see downrange so they can
build that confidence within themselves.”
The
students come from a variety of backgrounds from helicopter
pilots to aviation mechanics, medical personnel to
weathermen and everything in between. An air advisor is an
airman specially trained and educated to apply aviation
expertise to assess, train, advise, assist and equip foreign
personnel in developing and applying aviation resources to
meet the host nation's needs in support of U.S. interests.
The exercise takes place in a mock Afghanistan
landscape in Kandahar province. The scenario involves air
advisors meeting an Afghan Air Force colonel to introduce
themselves as the new air advisors in the area.
The
students must brief the fieldcraft instructors their plan
for the event prior to going out to Range 59E, the meeting
location. The facilities at Range 59E replicate an urban
environment students may encounter downrange.
The
meeting lasted two hours before the students loaded into
their vehicles, preparing to head back to the academy. The
drivers received a call that their planned route was no
longer an option which diverted them straight through a
village.
The village is where trainers dressed as an
opposing force engaged the students, forcing them to
disembark, return fire and move on foot to a helicopter
extraction point.
“A big difference between this FTX
iteration and others is the use of our new airsoft guns
instead of inert blue weapons,” said Holmes. “It allows the
students and the opposing force to fire and return fire,
adding to the effect and realism of the training.”
Armed with their airsoft weapons, the students returned fire
but also incurred casualties, forcing wingmen to combat
dress and care for the wounded - adding additional stress to
a high-speed environment.
“It's amazing to see these
students take all the lessons learned during the course and
apply them here,” said Holm. “Amidst all the chaos and
triage going on, the students reacted appropriately and did
what they needed to accomplish.”
The students
tactically moved through the wooded area behind the village
to their designated landing zone all the while receiving
fire from advancing enemy personnel. Once all 28 students
had made it to the LZ, a cease fire was called, allowing the
students to recollect for the debriefing.
“This
training scenario teaches us the basic warrior skills we all
need to know,” said Tech. Sgt. Bryan Sammons, 438th Air
Expeditionary Advisor Group security forces advisor. “I feel
like it was a good assessment of our skills we've learned
during our time at the academy.”
“My advice to future
air advisor students is to keep an open mind and really
absorb everything you learn here,” said Sammons. “Being in
security forces, I am familiar with expeditionary training
like this but I still learned a great deal. That knowledge
will stay with me throughout my future deployment.”
More photos available below
By USAF Airman 1st Class Ryan Throneberry
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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