Road Warrior III reinforces continuous training

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Bohn
  • 90th Space Wing Public Affairs
CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. (AFPN) --  Road Warrior III trained nearly 90 Airmen from air force bases in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota in the strategy and tactics of defending the nation’s ICBM resources for three weeks here.

The exercise involved more than 120 people from the National Nuclear Security Agency’s office of secure transportation and Air Force Space Command. The Aug. 9 to 27 exercise trained them in resource protection during convoy movements of intercontinental ballistic missile.

“We train from a holistic perspective,” said Capt. Vic Moncrieffe, Road Warrior III commander from Air Force Space Command headquarters at Peterson AFB, Colo. “We take all of the disciplines from multiple Air Force specialties and train them to be a team (that) can work together if a situation develops. America expects our nuclear munitions to be protected at the highest level. This training gives the expertise needed to do just that.”

Air Force participants included helicopter pilots, maintainers, security forces and other specialties. The instructors used a train-the-trainer mentality. Security forces Airmen can bring this training back to their home units to train other Airmen.

The training was broken down into three phases, each lasting about one week.

Phase One was the preparatory phase where instruction, coordination and leadership elements were discussed between students and instructors. This academic environment was necessary to provide a review of expectations and make Phase Two and Phase Three go smoothly.

“Any training is good, but this opens us up for outside views,” said 2nd Lt. Timothy Brady of the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. “This is better than just military training. Working with the (agency) has been great.”

“It’s challenging, but worth it,” said 2nd Lt. James Hagemier, who is in charge of the 741st MSFS fire teams at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. “This is progressive learning for advanced convoy protection techniques. The (agency) does this day-in and day-out; we do this periodically. The focus of this training is to give us an education we can benefit from. Everybody brings their own tactics, and when we leave we will have more tools in our toolbox in which to draw from.”

Phase Two was the advanced weapons training element where skills were improved for an operational and hostile environment. The focus was protection of land-based convoys.

“This training has been fantastic,” Lieutenant Hagemier said. “We fired more rounds in a nonqualification environment than we fire in a whole year at home station. Off-hand firing, extreme-close and distance shooting, and transition firing with other weapon systems are excellent opportunities to improve. The biggest advantage was the distance shooting while performing combat maneuvers, which is physically impossible at Malmstrom AFB.”

Phase Three included the tactics, techniques and procedures for defending a convoy. Elements in this phase focused on defending convoys, avoiding friendly fire incidents and other physical-security procedures.

“We are using actual tactics that we (would) use during an attack,” said 1st Lt. Kevin Lombardo, 791st MSFS senior convoy commander at Minot AFB, N.D. “We’re getting more out of this training than we would at our home units.”

“This training helps us work as a team,” Lieutenant Brady said. “Rather than just doing academic training, this incorporates the practical exercises we don’t have at our home station. We have a bigger (opposing force), which helps our guys react better.”

Potential enemies need to know U.S. servicemembers continue to be the most highly trained military professionals who are capable of performing their mission, officials said. If deterrence fails, then security forces and convoy Airmen will neutralize the threat and continue to keep America safe.