21 AMOS Airmen 'flex' their skills

Published July 29, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Francis Lalic
21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Members from the 21st Air Mobility Operations Squadron honed their skills during the internal flex exercise here July 15-24. The squadron is preparing for its upcoming deployment to Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2009 in Korea.

"Our main objective was to safely and successfully execute the squadron's full deployed mission set," said Lt. Col. Mark MacDonald, 21st AMOS commander. "It has been more than a year since the AMOS has conducted an exercise of this scale linking all of the squadron's capabilities and testing them to this extent. However, individual components of the unit deploy and exercise on a much more routine basis."

The exercise served three main purposes: (one), to provide a venue to link the three missions of the AMOS Air Mobility Division, Expeditionary Communications and Expeditionary Facilities; (two) prepare our AMD team for our employment Readiness Assessment Team evaluation at UFG, and the Contingency Response Wing's Initial Response phase inspection in March 2010, and (three) receive Air Mobility Command/Inspector General Ability to Survive and Operate evaluation, according to Colonel MacDonald.

For the initial phase, the 21st AMOS focused on the Initial Response actions. Once received the warning order and execution order, the squadron processed more than 90,000 pounds of equipment cargo and tasked 32 personnel for deployment.

During the second phase, the week was bookended by the deployed location set-up and teardown. The 21st AMOS established an independent AMD utilizing satellite communications and shelter unit codes.

In the culmination of the deployment phase, the squadron was tested on their ATSO capabilities. A member from the AMC/IG evaluated the unit's performance and knowledge.

The ATSO inspection included mission protective posture, various alarm levels, proper don of battle dress overgarment/chemical protective overgarment, post attack reconnaissance route execution, the contamination control area and self aid buddy care.

Amidst simulated chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives threats and ground, air and land attacks, 21st AMOS Airmen presented the AMC/IG with how they would conduct command and control in a contaminated environment and performed SABC during the evaluation.

The commander seemed impressed by the squadron's enthusiasm.
"The 21st AMOS was highly motivated to showcase our capabilities," he said.
The exercise, in concept, has been on schedule since January.

To help prepare for a successful evaluation, the 21st AMOS conducted several contingency trainings and ATSO drill exercises.

"Exercise prep was immense," the colonel said. "From developing the scenario and creating realistic exercise injects and products, to conducting hands-on ATSO, SABC, and shelters build training."

"We had a very aggressive schedule for the deployed location build-up and teardown, so we took a day of training to ensure all members were intimately familiar with our three-in-one hard sided shelters set-up," the colonel added.

The colonel said that any time you receive an evaluation; you are always subject to pre-game jitters.

"Once we got into execution and were able to demonstrate the pride, preparation, and professionalism of the 21 AMOS team, all concerns simply melted away," he said. "We were able to go from initial equipment drop-off to a four interconnected shelter full camp build with power and air conditioning in only four hours and 15 minutes."

Tech. Sgt. Nathan McNeely, 21st AMOS readiness NCO-in-charge said it was quite impressive to construct the four-shelter AMD complex and all its supporting communication and utility infrastructure in approximately four hours.

"The exercise was a great opportunity for the AMOS," Sergeant McNeely added. "From the deployment process to the employment phase and through reconstitution, we were able to execute our mission and fine tune many of our processes and procedures."

"Although the IG focused on the CBRNE and SABC aspect, I feel we performed well in all facets of the exercise," he said. "Without a doubt, the key was preparation, training and motivation."

Article Display