JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – The District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 113th Wing participated in a four-day readiness exercise during the regularly scheduled drill, which started March 17 at Joint Base Andrews.
The inspector general team evaluated the wing’s ability to survive and operate in a contested, degraded and operationally limited environment.
“The purpose of this exercise was to test and evaluate our procedures and tactics as well as our ability to operate in a limited or hostile environment,” said Maj. Jaresha Obey, commander of the 113th Maintenance Operations Flight. “The exercise went extremely well. At the end of each day, we highlighted the positive and negative aspects of the different areas of the operation, and we learned from our mistakes and made the necessary adjustments.
“Overall, the exercise was productive, “Obey said. “It gave Airmen the opportunity to make mistakes, learn from and correct them, and practice skills to prepare for the upcoming inspection.”
Members put on mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) equipment and rehearsed post-attack reconnaissance team tasks such as identifying, marking and reporting unexploded ordnance and self-aid buddy care.
It was the first readiness exercise for Senior Airman Daniel Simms, a knowledge operations manager for the 113th Communications Flight. “At first, it was very uncomfortable, but I feel better prepared for a deployed environment after this exercise,” he said. “MOPP gear makes any task far more difficult.”
Master Sgt. Jamie Wolf, an emergency management supervisor from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing, helped support the exercise.
“Based on real-world threats, it’s important that we are able to complete our mission in any environment,” said Wolf. “It’s been great getting to work with the members of the 113th and help prepare them for their mission.”
After suiting up in their MOPP equipment, Airmen honed the skills required to execute the wing’s mission by launching aircraft in a contested, degraded environment. They also reviewed and practiced Air Force procedures for contamination prevention and decontamination.
“Readiness exercises provide an opportunity to evaluate and train our Airmen who must be able to respond in a global threat environment,” said Brig. Gen. John J. Campo, commander of the 113th Wing. “I am proud of the performance of our wing members who put in long days preparing and executing the exercise. We’re going to make mistakes, but we will continually strive to improve so that we can always be ready to deploy and support the requirements of the combatant commanders.”