A test of readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathon D. A. Carnell
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – The 60th Air Mobility Wing wrapped up a week-long exercise February 2 that evaluated how Travis Air Force Base, California, executes base readiness and sustains rapid global mobility.

“The vision for the exercise was to validate readiness, identify any organize, train and equip requirements, develop tactics, techniques and procedures and highlight any wartime deficiencies to be corrected,” said Maj. Grant “NIKE” Behning, 60th Air Mobility Wing director of tactics. “We designed the exercise to maximize exposure to a chemical biological radiological nuclear environment while also validating our capabilities.”

Squadrons from across the base were called upon to evaluate their readiness by operating in alarm red Mission- Oriented Protective Posture while accomplishing the mission such as, removing ice from an aircraft, protecting a vehicle from incoming attacks, C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Stratotanker aircraft operations and medical evacuation drills.

“Today’s strategic environment requires that we operate at the pinnacle of readiness,” said Col. John Klein, 60th AMW commander. “Generating exercises like this allows us to enhance and fine tune our readiness, which is important for executing today’s mission while also investing in tomorrow.”

The exercise provided learning experiences for all Travis Airmen. Airmen who were not selected for the exercise still played a part. Units were still expected to accomplish the mission while some of their Airmen participated in the exercise.

“Travis’ ability to perform our daily mission and exceed down-range simulation procedures ensures our readiness,” said Chief Master Sgt. Steve Nichols, 60th AMW command chief. “All Airmen at Travis were involved and participated in some way during the exercise. This exercise was not easy. However, the professionalism and readiness Travis Airmen demonstrated inspires me to serve with this amazing team.”

There are many factors when exercises like these take place. This exercise gave Travis leadership feedback on where Travis needs improvement, but also where Travis performed well.

“It has been approximately five years since Travis has had a similar exercise,” said Nichols. “Our Airmen performed well, but still, as expected, faced challenges. Seeing how Airmen learned from their mistakes proved their competence and allegiance moving forward with the mission.”

Developing a scenario which is realistic and challenging needed to be focused around operating in austere environments with dynamic challenges, said Behning.

“Future exercises will be more robust in nature, but the focus remains the same: full spectrum readiness,” said Behning. “We will continue to push the edge of our capabilities.” 

Travis will engage with future exercises where Airmen take on new challenges. Travis will adapt to whichever obstacle presents itself.

“Attitudes were phenomenal,” said Klein. “A lot of lessons were learned both in how we put the exercise together and how we executed it. Next time, we will raise our game more.”