Force protection dominates the August base exercise

908th Airlift Wing "mobility bags" are stored by the 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell. The August 42nd ABW base exercise included the 908th AW's cargo processing as the Reserve Wing prepares for its Operational Readiness Inspection in December. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

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Force protection dominates the August base exercise

Cargo pallets from the 908th Airlift Wing are being transported to the marshalling yard at Maxwell as part of the 42nd Air Base Wing exercise Aug. 11. In addition to testing its force protection condition codes, 42nd ABW included 908th cargo processing as the Reserve Wing prepares for its Operational Readiness Inspection in December. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jamie Pitcher)

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Force protection dominates the August base exercise

Published Aug. 21, 2009
By Carl Bergquist
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The base exercise evaluation team chief said assessing the actions of base personnel to changes in the Maxwell-Gunter Force Protection Condition was the primary focus of the August base exercise.

"The true exercise for this month involved changing the FPCON," Gary Looney said. "We have many new unit deployment managers who needed some experience in this area, and this exercise allowed them to see the process and get that experience."

He said while there were a few things that need attention for future exercises, posting FPCON signs was not an issue, and the force protection condition segment of the exercise went well. He said another segment of the August event, a deployment, was devoted more to training, especially of new personnel, than to evaluating base units.

"Sometimes, we have to slow down a little and let them have a training exercise," Mr. Looney said. "This allows them to make mistakes that can be brought to their attention and corrected, and hopefully they learn from those mistakes."

In addition to the deployment and field exercise and FPCON change sections of the exercise, he said the 908th Airlift Wing prepared and marshaled cargo from their cargo processing yard as a rehearsal for their upcoming September Operational Readiness Exercise.

"This was a practice run to illuminate difficulties that might show up in the coming ORE," Mr. Looney said. "The 908th had a few problems with shipping decks, but those were corrected on the spot, and the wing should be in good shape for September."

He said another educational opportunity involved standing up the Emergency Operations Center/Crisis Action Team for the purpose of familiarization.

"This part was a training exercise for new personnel to the base, and gave them a chance to log on to the Virtual Operation Center Web site," Mr. Looney said. "Logging on to the VOC allowed base members to train on that process, and that part of the exercise also went very well."

The September Maxwell-Gunter exercise is scheduled for the week of Sept. 14 - 18, and Mr. Looney wants to remind everyone the 908th ORE will also be held that week.