Warrior Week sharpens skills

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Madelyn Ottem
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Approximately 350 Travis Airmen displayed their capabilities in attack response while maintaining mission flow April 16 through 20 during Warrior Week at Travis.

Warrior Weeks are intended to have Airmen in their units conduct the required Ability to Survive and Operate training as well as deployed action skills in a concentrated period of time, said Dan Johnson, 60th Air Mobility Wing Travis exercise evaluation team chief.

Participants in Warrior Week took a refresher course on many of the skills that were initially learned in Basic Military Training. After those briefings, a validation day was held to ensure the Airmen could put what they had learned into practice.

Senior Airman Crystal Zimpel, 60th AMW Command Post, took part in the Warrior Week under the Director of Staff unit.

It's important to give individuals refresher training on either computer based training or hands on training that was conducted in the past in order to prepare for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection, she said.

"The turnout was great," Johnson said. "We still have some work to do to be at 100 percent, but that is what these exercises are for."

With a combination of Warrior Weeks and Operational Readiness Exercises, Travis Airmen will be well versed in their Airman's Manuals come ORI time.

"I feel more prepared to respond quickly and accurately in a critical event," Zimpel said. "I believe that brushing up on old skills will help everyone."

"Our goal in the EET is to make it harder than any inspection would," Johnson said. "If we accomplish that, then the inspections and real-world responses should be easy and people can showcase their skills, talents and knowledge."

Johnson offers advice to Airmen participating in the upcoming ORI.

"Do your homework," he said. "Study the ground rules, the approved simulations and limitations, the Ability to Survive and Operate skills and be functionally qualified to excel."
While Airmen are expected to show total competence in their training by the major command inspectors, they will also be expected to display the Air Force core value of excellence, which encompasses attitude as well. Showcasing the ability to accomplish the task should be combined with a sense of urgency and willingness to support the team.

These OREs and ORIs provide training for Airmen to ensure they maintain military standard, not only in their Air Force Specialty Code, but their wartime skills training as well, Johnson said. They are a proficient way for leadership to gain insight on our capabilities and what areas need more focus.

"I believe getting all the ORE and ORI players together for training was great for team building," Zimpel said. "These exercises benefit the Air Force when Travis is called up to service its nation."