552nd ACW Airmen generate sorties during exercise Published Nov. 2, 2007 By Senior Airman Lorraine Amaro 552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing set up at South Ramp, a playing area on the Navy side of base. Their mission was to generate sorties while enduring chemical runs, mission threatening scenarios and "mortar" attacks that drastically changed force protection conditions and mission oriented protective postures. The ramp was frequently hit by mock air attacks that spread "chemical agents" throughout the area. These attacks frequently sent Airmen into MOPP 4, which means wearing the highest degree of personal protection, gear, including gas masks and chemical suits. There were also simulated ground attacks involving snipers and unexploded ordinances, which "injured and killed" several Airmen, and put their Self Aid Buddy Care skills to the test. Despite this chaos, the 552nd ACW generated eight successful sorties during their three-day grading period. "We have exercises to get Airmen into the (Air Expeditionary Force) mindset," said Capt. Anthony Sutton, Maintenance troop commander at South ramp. "We need to understand all of our mission responsibilities and how to prepare to deploy." "Some of us have deployed before, some of us haven't," said Airman 1st Class John Ramos, a logistics supply Airman from the 552nd Air Maintenance Squadron. "For those of us who haven't, it shows us what deploying is really like and throws all types of scenarios our way in order to prepare us." "I feel like our Airmen did an outstanding job," said Captain Sutton. "They worked hard to make the wing proud. At the same time, they learned the skills they will need when the time comes for them to truly deploy."