On guard

Staff Sgt. Darren Hardt, an Air Force reservist from the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., carefully approaches a "prisoner" during one of the squadron's exercises to prepare them for an upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection. The 442nd CES is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit. (US Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

On patrol

During a tactical exercise at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Air Force reservist, Tech. Sgt. Kim Levy, and fellow 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron members, patrol a road in the exercise area. The 442nd CES is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit. (US Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Bill Huntington)

'Check six'

Reflected in the mirror of his High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HUMVEE), Master Sgt. David Anderson waits for the signal to move out with the rest of a 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron convoy during combat training Jan. 11, 2008. The squadron is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve A-10 unit based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Tom Talbert)

Convoy operations

Air Force reservists from the 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron drive tactical vehicles along the streets of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to a training site on base during a local exercise. Part of the training program included convoy operations. The 442nd CES is part of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter unit. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Tom Talbert)

From practical to tactical: 442nd civil engineers exercise combat skills

Published Feb. 13, 2009
By Master Sgt. Bill Huntington
442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron troops donned full "battle rattle" and took to the field during a January unit training assembly exercise to focus on improving tactical skills, including individual and team movement, sweep and clear operations, entry control point and vehicle search, and enemy prisoner of war challenging.

The training is part of the ground-combat skills used by the CE troops and will be employed in transition day activities during October's operational readiness inspection.

"All of those things will be part of the ORI," said Master Sgt. Nathan Hooton, 442nd CES. "(We'll need) to show that we have a working knowledge to actually perform them."

To ensure the training was accurate and effective, the engineers enlisted the support of 442nd Security Forces Squadron members.

"The focus was to establish a foundation in each of these areas that could be built upon over the coming months," said Master Sgt. Mitch Dorl, 442nd SFS.

Sergeant Hooton said his troops were very grateful to SFS for the training and planned to put it to good use in exercises over the next several months before the ORI. He said that each successive exercise will be increasingly more intense than the previous one. The goal is to get the engineers used to operating in tactical gear while performing their usual jobs, effectively defending their positions against enemy attacks and also making certain they are at their sharpest for the ORI.

"It was very positive," Sergeant Hooton said of the experience. "It motivated everybody, let them know where they are and what they need to do to get ready."

Sergeant Dorl said the CE troops were great students and came through the training well.

"The hustle and cooperation seen throughout the day was outstanding," Sergeant Dorl said. "It was obvious from the beginning - these warriors came to train, and indeed they did!"