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Tinker Airmen take refresher course on surviving, operating in hostile environments

  • Published
  • By Danielle Gregory
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  Active duty representatives from almost every Air Force Materiel Command unit came together Jan. 18 to conduct a refresher course on surviving and operating in hostile environments.
   Several different classrooms were set up to reiterate what Airmen have already learned, but need to keep fresh in their mind in case of deployment or exercises.
"The whole emphasis is to stress teamwork and being prepared," said Paul Logan, coordinator of the training.
   Classrooms available were self aid/buddy care, donning/doffing, mask inspection, contamination avoidance, weapons safety, handling and cleaning, post attack reconnaissance and the detection and reporting of threats in a hostile environment. All classrooms were set up to reinforce hands on training. The participants were also given an Airman's manual test.
   In the hostile environment classroom area, Airmen were walked through by instructors and showed how to secure different things to prevent them from coming in contact with chemicals. Airmen practiced using the gear that protects them from chemical hazards. Furthermore, instructors also showed Airmen what to do if one of them became contaminated by a chemical. The class was held under the instruction of, 72nd Civil Engineering's Emergency Management. Instructors included Ted Hunter, Mike Krissoff, Glen Brandt, Art Wolf and Steve Ferreira.
   The weapons handling classroom, instructed by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Strough and Staff Sgt. Oscar Santana, consisted of the proper handling and safety of guns. Instructors demonstrated the proper techniques of clearing several different types of firearms and the appropriate ways to handle them.
   In the self aid/buddy care classroom, instructed by Staff Sgt. Tammy Appleby, Staff Sgt. Kristen Edwards and Master Sgt. Craig Harris, Airmen were reminded about different techniques that are needed in case of a medical emergency. They also paired off and practiced medical situations and how to bandage and help one another.