An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 17, 2023

West Virginia 167th Airlift Wing Tests Readiness in Exercise

By Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle, 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The 167th Airlift Wing conducted a readiness exercise at Shepherd Field Aug. 9-12 with Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia Guard members.

As part of the Unit Effectiveness Inspection cycle, the exercise tested the wing’s ability to mobilize, operate and sustain its mission in degraded and contested environments with synchronized support from the 175th Air Wing of the Maryland National Guard, North Carolina National Guard’s 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery, West Virginia National Guard’s C. Company, 1-150th Assault Battalion, and the WVNG’s 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of the 130th Airlift Wing.

“Bringing in training partners from other units and branches of service enhances our interoperability capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Tony Henry, 167th AW inspector general. “And with our robust wing inspection team, we were able to observe and assess the exercise from all angles, which gives our commanders the ground truth so they can see where they need to focus or refocus.”

Exercise participants, representing functions across the wing, were challenged to accomplish mission-essential tasks under simulated stressors and time constraints, testing their policies, plans and training.

The exercise scenario included more than 300 lines of injects, which drove the actions of the exercise.

Senior Master Sgt. Charlie Moore, one of the lead planners for the exercise, said the injects forced the unit’s Airmen to think creatively.

“The scenario successfully stressed the importance of communication, teamwork and problem-solving,” said Moore.

The wing carried out all aspects of its mission, including deployment processing, launching transport missions and defending the base. The wing also supported integrated combat turns with A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft and simulated munitions launches from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems while overcoming simulated network and power outages, ground and air attacks and other disruptions and threats.

“This exercise offered realistic threat scenarios and it was accomplished safely,” Henry said. “From the newest Airmen to the most seasoned officers and NCOs, we all learned something from this.”

The wing will conduct another readiness exercise in April.

 

 

Related Articles
Marybeth Cole and her daughter, Blair Hesen, march in formation with the 167th Airlift Wing Student Flight at the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, West Virginia, Nov. 2, 2024. The mother-daughter duo enlisted together and are members of the 167th Student Flight Program.
Mother, Daughter Enlist Together at 167th Airlift Wing
By Staff Sgt. Edward Michon, | Nov. 8, 2024
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - For military members, family extends beyond biological ties, bound by shared purpose, sacrifice and trust.But for one mother and daughter from Martinsburg, the love and loyalty to their country can truly...

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Kenneth Casey, an aircraft maintainer with the 167th Maintenance Group, directs a pallet while being observed by Master Sgt. Corbin Householder, left, 167th Operations Group loadmaster, during multicapable Airmen training at the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, West Virginia, Nov. 5, 2023. The training focused on developing competencies outside of the Airman’s primary Air Force specialty code. (
167th Airlift Wing Conducts Multicapable Airmen Training
By Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle, | Nov. 13, 2023
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A multicapable Airmen proof-of-concept training event was conducted at the 167th Airlift Wing at Shepherd Field Nov. 5.Approximately 50 Airmen representing maintenance, operations, logistics and...

Members of the 130th Airlift Wing execute a Limited FLUSH plan as a part of a Fly Away Readiness Exercise Validation at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Miss., Sept. 9, 2023.
130th Airlift Wing Conducts Readiness Exercise Validation
By 1st Lt. Alexis Farmer and 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley, | Sept. 14, 2023
GULFPORT, Miss. - Around 350 Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia, deployed to Gulfport, Mississippi, Sept 7-10 for the Fly Away Readiness Exercise Validation (FLARE-V).The members participated in...