Maxwell performs ‘good job’ during base exercise

Tech. Sgt. Gary Beckford (left) helps Master Sgt. Ed Hancuff with his gas mask at “Blue Thunder” during a deployment exercise Feb. 12. Both Sergeants Beckford and Hancuff are members of the 42nd Medical Group. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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Maxwell performs ‘good job’ during base exercise

A security officer at the Kelly Street gate inspects the engine compartment of a truck during the base exercise Feb. 10. (Air Force photo by Jamie Pitcher)

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Maxwell performs ‘good job’ during base exercise

Published Feb. 19, 2009
By Carl Bergquist
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The February Maxwell-Gunter exercise involved a deployment/field exercise; a force protection condition change; flightline protection drills; and personnel accountability, and for the most part, the events last week went well said the base Exercise Evaluation Team chief.

"There were a few issues we may have to re-test, but overall, the base did a good job with this month's exercise," Gary Looney said.

He said considering there has been a change in personnel since the October Operational Readiness Inspection, base personnel performed admirably during the deployment segment. He said the field exercise segment concentrated more on training this time than evaluation, and accountability of base personnel went very well.

"We did two flightline protection drills," Mr. Looney said. "One was conducted in daylight hours, while the other was done at night, and the results of both were good."

He also noted base members are improving in terms of following the guidelines regarding fordce protection condition changes.

"The base went to FPCON Charlie and remained there overnight, and there were very few problems," Mr. Looney said. "For example, door signs on buildings were properly changed and random measures were followed."

He said monthly exercises are conducted in ways that hopefully cause a minimum of nuisance to Maxwell-Gunter and its mission, but the base is required by AFI to test 36 different type of exercises. Some are tested quarterly, some semi-annually, and some are done on an annual basis.

"Barrier plans and other measures that are taken and might cause an inconvenience to base members are Air Force Instruction driven," Mr. Looney said. "And, they are AFI driven for the sole purpose of protecting the base and the base populace."

The next Maxwell-Gunter monthly exercise is scheduled for the week of March 9-13.