Field exercises keep Security Forces Reservists deployable ready

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Federico
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
FORT CARSON, Colo. --  The Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Security Forces Squadron geared up for hands-on foundational skills training here during the October Unit Training Assembly. Approximately 45 members of the unit bivouacked to conduct field exercises during the day and through the night in a Military Operations on Urban Terrain environment in order to stay mission ready and deployable.

"As a commander it is really important for me to build the cohesion and morale of these troops, because when they are working together they have to trust each other. Part of building this morale and cohesion is having these young Airmen get these experiences," said Capt. Brian Young, 302nd SFS commander.

Master Sgt. Tina Lopez, 302nd SFS training superintendent, said first they conduct instructional training, next they use practical applications to build the muscle memory and finally they evaluate the engagement of the techniques used during each scenario.

"It is important, it is part of deployment readiness and training for our mission to go out and secure and protect assets and the lives of our other fellow service members," said Lopez.

For part of the nighttime practical application they suited up in partial "battle rattle."  This meant wearing goggles, helmets and vests for safety purposes as they fired Simunition cartridges at each other to create live force on force scenarios. Simunition rounds are designed to be fired by military weapons. The projectile breaks upon impact, leaving a paintball-like mark on the target.

Senior Airman Ruby Herrera, a fire team member with the 302nd SFS, was in attendance for her second consecutive year.

"My favorite part about the training this time was the active shooter scenarios," said Herrera. "I love it when we use Simunition rounds because it is different yelling at somebody 'safety kill.' But when you feel the physical pain of something shooting you, you are going to react and that is when you start learning."

Airman Cody Connor, a fire team member with the 302nd SFS, has only been with the squadron for a couple months since finishing tech school and was excited about his first field exercise experience.

"It was a rush," said Conner. "At any moment something can pop off."

Lopez said the Airmen focused on security forces tactical maneuvers which included dealing with active shooters, entering and clearing buildings, pre-combat inspections and checks, movement as four-person fire teams and 13-person squads across open areas, close quarters battle, utilizing fire control measures, reacting to far and near ambushes and conducting strategic evacuation of wounded personnel.