Operation Resolute Warrior perseveres through rough weather conditions

Published Nov. 2, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- War doesn't stop for cold temperatures, rain or wind. Neither did Operational Readiness Exercise Resolute Warrior 08-01, the week of Oct. 22.
   Winds howled and torrential rains soaked Glenwood Training Area and the south aircraft parking ramp on Monday. Some 500 participating Airmen from three Tinker units -- the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, the 552nd Air Control Wing and the 3rd Combat Communications Group -- finished prepping for the exercise. Temperatures hung in the mid-40s. By early Tuesday, the first full day of the exercise, the winds and rain ceased, but the cold temperatures dipped into the 30s and lasted through the morning.
   "There were some challenges early on, such as the weather and communication," said Lt. Col. Kyle Ingham, Survival Recovery Center day-shift director for the exercise. "I expect the scenarios will ramp up and become more involved."
   For exercise purposes, the three units made up the fictitious 627th Air Expeditionary Wing at King Abdulaziz Air Base, a bare base in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 60 Airmen from the 3rd Herd began set up preparations during the week of Oct. 15 -- phase one of the two-phase exercise.
   Throughout the week of Oct. 22, their mission was to defend the fictitious installation against Middle Eastern attackers. 3rd Herd and 72nd Air Base Wing Airmen were situated at Glenwood, while 552nd ACW Airmen were stationed at the south ramp.
   By early morning Oct. 23, activities at Glenwood were picking up. An Airman had approached a chaplain, and in a fictitious scenario, complained of homesickness, marital problems and contemplated suicide.
   "Depression and family issues are common, but are even more serious when one spouse is not in the United States," said Chaplain (Capt.) Kelly Stahl, who aided the depressed Airman. "This exercise is great training and I've learned a lot in a couple of days."
   About 30 minutes after accompanying the Airman to a Life Skills tent, a siren sounded and Airmen quickly dressed in mission-oriented protective postures level 4 gear with gas masks, black rubber gloves and helmets, for a "red" alert, meaning an attack by air is imminent or in progress. It was just one of several times Airmen would don MOPP 4 attire.
   A fictitious mortar attack occurred and moments later, Airmen were instructed of the change to alert "black" meaning nuclear, biological or chemical contamination is suspected or real. Airmen then donned MOPP 2 attire -- field gear and foot covers. Several Airmen in nearby tents swept the area for debris from the fictitious attack. Master Sgt. Vanessa Hammond led a group of three Airmen to the Chapel tent, across from their starting point at tent four.
   "Slowly, slowly," she commanded.
   Two tents over, another group conducted a sweep.
   When Sergeant Hammond's group, which was now observed by several others, reached the Chapel tent, one of the sweepers knocked on the door of the Chapel tent and recovered two other sweepers who were left inside before the attack.
   Soon thereafter, Sergeant Hammond's group was instructed by Glen Brandt, a chemical warfare expert and an exercise evaluator from the 72nd ABW Civil Engineer Readiness unit, to secure the SRC.
   Before the exercise concluded on Oct. 25, the 627th AEW reacted to more than a dozen attacks and crises. Day temperatures held steady in the 60s.
   "This was kind of fun," said Colonel Ingham. "It was a nice change of pace."