Deploying Airmen boost field

  • Published
  • By Jeff Nicolay
  • Hickam Kukini editor
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hi --  Are you ready to deploy? Forty-six active-duty and reserve Team Hickam warriors tasked to deploy during Air Expeditionary Force 7/8 cycle are now better prepared thanks to their participation in a challenging three-day expeditionary combat skills training (ECST) course held last week on Hickam. 

"The course was designed to provide intense training in Self Aid and Buddy Care, weapon use and care, proper wear of personal protective equipment, explosive ordnance recognition and the use of force, among other vital skills," said Lt Col McDaniel, 15th Mission Support Group Deputy Commander. 

The colonel noted that five expert instructors from the ANSER Corporation in Arlington, VA, came to Oahu to provide this training, which consisted of two days of in-class training complemented by a single-day field exercise held last Friday where information presented in the classroom was enacted in a simulated deployed environment. 

"We are very fortunate to have this caliber of training available to our Airman," Colonel McDaniel said. "We work very hard day in and day out to ensure our Airmen are ready. This class reinforces that training and really gets our Airmen in the right mindset to deploy. I am convinced they're all better prepared because of this training." 

Colonel McDaniel expressed appreciation for the efforts behind-the-scenes workers put forth to make this training such a success. 

"Lt Rehema Stuckey, 15 CONS, really stepped up to the plate and hit a home run organizing this class," he said. "She pulled together representatives from our Civil Engineer, Security Forces, Logistics Readiness and Services squadrons, ensuring that weapons, ammunition, vehicles, personal protective gear, UXO samples and every little detail were available to make the training as realistic as possible. What a great team effort!" 

Col. JJ Torres, 15th Airlift Wing Commander, agreed, praising other Team Hickam members supporting the course and a benefit of the training that extends beyond a series of skill sets. 

"Thanks to OPFOR provided by defenders from the 15th Security Forces Squadron, this training proved vital to Airman readiness," he said, adding, "This training is necessary to establish the warrior ethos mindset for those deploying to a hostile environment."
Colonel McDaniels noted that with only a few exceptions, ECST is mandatory for all Airmen deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, and is designed to ensure Airmen enter the area of responsibility combat ready. 

"Fifteen AW commanders have been charged to make every effort to ensure all AEF deployers attend this training, regardless of destination," he said. "Additional classes will be provided prior to each AEF bucket so that all Airmen have the same opportunity to receive this valuable training. Training dates will be advertised as soon as they are finalized."