Two new courses improve AFGSC defense capabilities

Published Oct. 29, 2014
By Senior Airman Jason Wiese
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- On the kind of day when it is cold in the shade and hot in the sun, the jagged, grassy landscape of Guernsey, Wyoming, was quiet and still -- as quiet and still as it can be in windy Wyoming.

Breaking the stillness, the engines of humvees and a payload transporter roared as they drove down a dirt road, followed shortly by machine gun fire.

"You never know how you're going to react until you're actually engaged in combat," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Cummings, 620th Ground Combat Training Squadron. "We try to bring that as realistically as possible. I'm trying to make sure all those guys are prepared."

On Oct. 17, 741st Missile Security Forces Squadron defenders from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, took part in a final training exercise at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, which was the culmination of the rest of the week's training. In the scenario, defenders using blank rounds protected the payload transporter from the 620th GCTS instructors (also using blank rounds), who played the part of an opposing force.

The Nuclear Convoy Course , along with the Combat Skills Course, are two Force Improvement Program initiatives created to help improve the capabilities of Air Force Global Strike Command security forces.

FIP is an aggressive grass-roots feedback program designed to quickly provide senior Air Force leaders with actionable recommendations for improvement by conducting one-on-one interviews and surveys with Airmen. It is an opportunity to foster positive changes within the command.

When the FIP teams began collecting feedback from Airmen early in 2014, many defenders requested additional training. They wanted to brush up on the basic skills they learned at technical school, which they have not had much opportunity to train since, said George Bice, AFGSC Operations Training Branch deputy chief.

In spring, Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, commander, AFGSC, told his staff he wanted to implement additional training for AFGSC defenders and get them more trigger time, Bice said.

"There was a need for training," Cummings said. "This is the first step in trying to meet the need for training."

In the combat skills course, defenders from across all AFGSC wings hone their weapon skills and tactics knowledge. In the Nuclear Convoy Course, defenders train to protect nuclear convoys, which maintainers in the ICBM force use to move missile components to and from their respective bases for maintenance. Only ICBM wings in AFGSC have attended or will attend the Nuclear Convoy Course because that skillset is specific to the ICBM mission.

The training courses benefit all non-tactical response force, non-convoy response force personnel, Cummings said.

These defenders include base law enforcement and missile security forces Airmen. Tactical Response ForceRF and CRF defenders already receive the specialized training.

Every AFGSC defender will have advanced training. Defenders, from TRF to gate guards, will be able to fire long distances, hit moving targets and clear out buildings.

620th GCTS instructors offer a lot of unique training not available at home stations, he said.

Training at Camp Guernsey gives a chance to experience scenarios more realistically, said Master Sgt. Christopher Clark, 741st MSFS CRF superintendent, who took part in the Nuclear Convoy Course, Oct. 13 to 17.

"You always want to train like you would actually fight," Cummings said. "This type of training is important because the part that requires extra training is what happens when the convoy gets attacked. They need to know how to react. We provide a safe working environment to maintain the weapon system."

Fifteen training instructors changed duty stations to Camp Guernsey to accommodate the greater numbers of trainees who will go there for training.

The instructors are very motivated, Clark said.

The students loved the training. It was exactly what they were looking for, Bice said.

Because the training courses are new, there is room for improvement. One change Bice said they will make is adjusting the schedule. Some of the timing was a little off and led to down time that could have been used for more training.

"Actually, most of the folks wanted to stay longer," he said. "We'll adjust those times and tighten up loose ends."

On the whole, the students found they learned a lot and enjoyed their training, Bice said.

A saying in the 741st MSFS goes: "It is what it is. Get it done," Clark said. In his words, "bringing shiny new tools back to the home station," will help get it done.

Defenders from across AFGSC continue to attend both courses.

"I can't stress enough: it's crucial they get this kind of training," Cummings said.