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Poised and ready: Whiteman Airmen participate in annual AFGSC exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jazmin Smith
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The ability of the U.S. military to respond quickly and effectively to real-world situations stems from the training and exercises it conducts.

Total Force Airmen from the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings (BW) participated in exercise CONSTANT VIGILANCE 16 (CV16) at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, April 8-13, 2016, as part of the annual AFGSC training event.

The exercise involved multiple bomb and missile wings from across AFGSC refining their ability to support their conventional and nuclear missions in concert with each other.

For members of Team Whiteman, this exercise enabled the Airmen to focus on the critical roles they play in deterrence missions and supporting combatant commanders. Provided with a simulated environment, the base achieved multiple generations of the B-2 Spirit, refined deployment processing procedures, and validated force protection and anti-terrorism measures.

The exercise also gave 131st BW drill-status Airmen an opportunity to work alongside their full-time counterparts, which is another way Total Force Integration (TFI) ensures operational readiness.

"This is the first time our Drill Status Guardsmen (DSG) have participated in the actual loading of the weapons during this exercise," said Col. Kimbra Sterr, the 131st Maintenance Group commander. "It was monumental for us to have the opportunity to show our full-time force and the 509th that the DSGs are proficient in their specialty and can participate in the mission. Roughly half of our members are fulltime, so they've always participated, but the fact that we can bring our drill-status Airmen in shows that TFI and a fully-integrated Air Force really does work."

Throughout CV16, each shift had a DSG on hand working alongside the full-time technicians. Their performance during the exercise proved Team Whiteman is ready and equipped with the right tools and training to do the job.

"All of us contribute to the defense of our great nation; together we provide a credible and decisive strike platform that deters our adversaries from harming us and our allies," said Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets IV, the 509th Bomb Wing commander. "When needed, we also serve as avengers on behalf of the American people. As such, we must always remain poised to respond and to strike wherever and whenever needed."