BOISE, Idaho – Airmen of the Idaho Air National Guard 124th Fighter Wing’s Security Forces Squadron honed their skills in simulated combat scenarios and heavy weapons during a June 6 field training exercise at the Saylor Creek Range, a part of the Mountain Home Range Training Complex in southwest Idaho.
The day’s activities tested the Airmen’s tactical readiness and reinforced the squadron’s ability to eliminate threats with speed and precision.
“You can have the perfect plan,” said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Loyd, the flight chief overseeing the training. “But as soon as you hit the ground, things can change. You have to adapt and push forward to complete the mission.”
Airmen started the day operating from a simulated forward operating base, testing their ability to react quickly with limited resources. Teams engaged in force-on-force scenarios using weapons loaded with simulation rounds. In each scenario, they maneuvered through ambushes and assaults designed to mimic peer-to-peer conflict environments.
“When you’re actually getting hit with simulation rounds, it hits differently,” said Staff Sgt. Randy Talamantez, a fire team leader and seasoned SFS Airman with prior service in both the U.S. Marine Corps and Army. “It lets you know where you messed up and then you adjust.”
The training wasn’t just about firepower. It was about mental toughness, adaptability and trust.
“We definitely took a loss on the first push from the opposing force,” Talamantez said. “But each time we went up against them, we adapted and overcame. You could see the improvement with every iteration.”
Airmen also trained with experienced noncommissioned officers, learning how to operate heavy weapons systems that included the M240 machine gun, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, and Mk19 grenade launcher.
“Some of us are getting a refresher, others are getting their first hands-on time,” Talamantez said. “Either way, it’s building confidence and that’s key when you’re downrange.”
For both Loyd and Talamantez, the concept of lethality is more than just firepower. It’s about mindset, precision, and decision-making under stress.
“Lethality means being a solid weapon for the U.S.,” Loyd said. “That doesn’t just mean pulling a trigger. It’s strategic thinking, marksmanship and being able to outfight someone with the same tools you have.”
As global threats shift toward near-peer adversaries, nations with comparable weaponry and training, the need for adaptable and combat-ready Airmen has never been greater.