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Fight the base, Recover the base

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Karoline Scott
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
03/01/2007 --  Fight the base. Recover the base. Win the war!
Not only is this the new 'rally cry' for the 375th Mission Support Group, but it is also the concept behind a benchmark program at Scott Air Force Base aimed at changing the way the Air Force thinks, trains and operates.
The idea for Fight the Base and Recover the Base first came to Col. Brad Spacy, 375th MSG commander, while he was a security police lieutenant deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm. "While deployed, our wing commander told us to get ready to 'fight' our base like the Navy 'fights' an aircraft carrier," he said. "That means you fight as an integrated team - everyone has a battle station and knows when to go there and what to do when disaster strikes.
"Our rally cry is 'Fight the Base, Recover the Base, Win the War' not only because we're all combat Airmen, eager to fight and win the Global War on Terror, but also because we realize we are more likely to be recovering from a natural disaster here than fighting off a ground attack against the base," he said. "The deployed environment is another story - there the fighting skills come first. We want our Airmen to be ready for all situations," said Colonel Spacy.
The creation and execution of the program came after months of planning between Maj. Timothy Tole, 375th Security Forces Squadron commander and other members of 375th SFS including Master Sgt. Andrew Reeves, Master Sgt. John Purtle and Tech. Sgt. Brian Orwig.
"Those in traditional 'first-responder' roles - security forces personnel, base firefighters and medics to name a few - should not be the only ones poised to act when catastrophe strikes," said Major Tole. "All available Airmen need to have an established role when the time comes to protecting and rebuilding the base."
This concept of planning is described in detail in the drafted AFI 10-250, Installation Arming and Response, which Colonel Spacy helped create. It provides a basis for the 375th MSG's FTB/RTB concept of operations.
Under FTB/RTB, all MSG Airmen have been divided into designated groups in order to determine where they need to report during a recall. They are all also being issued basic equipment, which they will keep at their workstations at all times. "The issued equipment includes a helmet, flak vest, web gear and a gas mask -- enough to ensure Airmen are ready for any situation, but not so much that it's too cumbersome to carry around," said Major Tole.
"Our Airmen from different squadrons will be responsible for the recovery operations or defense of a pre-designated portion of the base," he said. "This gives them a chance to become very familiar with their assigned areas and after practice, they will be able to respond with minimal guidance, which is critical during an emergency," said Major Tole.
"Within each designated area, individuals will be assigned an emergency response duty which determines what they will do during a FTB/RTB recall," he said. "And since they have their gear, we just issue them a saw, shovel or weapon - depending on the situation - and they will be ready to go.
"During an RTB recall, for example, some would be assigned to help clear downed tree limbs after an ice storm, while during an FTB recall airmen might be assigned to perform many of the security and defense tasks typical of SF Airmen," he said.
The cornerstone of this new plan is a four-day FTB/RTB training course, which will prepare all Airmen, regardless of career field, to be combat-ready, not only prior to deployment, but also when disasters occur at home station.
A test FTB/RTB training class was conducted in December and consisted of a condensed three-day version of what will eventually become an intensive, four-day course.
"This training makes sense whether or not you have a 'Fight the Base/Recover the Base' plan," said Sergeant Reeves. "The course includes all readiness ancillary training, SF augmentee training and Expeditionary Combat Skills Training to include weapons qualification. This is more than just a course; it is a new way to think, train and operate.
"Besides getting all deployment training done in just a few days, we re-arranged our schedule so every Airman receives this course in the training spin-up of his/her AEF cycle, and we also plan to give them all of their required shots," he said. "We've taken about 57 hours of training spread over 20 months and reduced it to 41 hours Airmen will get over four days - taking out the redundancy and actually increasing capability. It makes total sense and falls perfectly in line with the AFSO21 culture."
The course curriculum is a combination of classroom instruction, demonstration, and a culminating field training exercise where participants are given scenarios that include both attacks against the base and crisis response to natural disasters.
"After two days of classroom instruction," said Sergeant Reeves, "we put what they learned to the test in a day-long FTX."
Convoy attacks, identifying improvised explosive devises, weapons training, and natural disaster recovery were just a few of the many scenarios participants faced.
By the end of the third day of nearly 40 hours of intensive training and exercises, the first-ever FTB/RTB course was deemed a success.
"During that third day, you could really see the classroom training pay off," said Sergeant Reeves. "You had Airmen from the 375th Communications Squadron and the 375th Mission Support Squadron holding their weapons and moving like security forces Airmen. It was truly awesome."
Feedback from course participants was also very positive. "The greatest part about the training was the hands-on experience," said 1st Lt. Nicole Droney, 375th MSS chief of personnel readiness and the flight commander for the December FTB/RTB course. "It was an absolutely great experience and a good reminder that regardless of duty title, we are all combat Airmen."
FTB/RTB will now expand beyond the initial test group to include all 375th MSG personnel in early March. "Before long, we would like to see this program expand to the entire base and, eventually, the entire Air Force," said Colonel Spacy.
Another key component of FTB/RTB is called 'Sergeants' Time.' With this, units and supervisors will designate periods of time when NCOs can train junior enlisted personnel to perform disaster response or combat tasks.
"'Sergeants' Time' will help everyone effectively manage limited training time to prepare to fight and recover the base," said Sergeant Reeves. "NCOs will have a menu of tasks to choose from for training. Skills practiced during 'Sergeants' Time' will be everything from skills used in disaster response to combat skills like increased weapons handling using the Fire Arms Training Simulator. It's all about maximizing efficiency and deliberately ensuring all Airmen master a wide range of skills."
FTB/RTB is already off to a great start, and leadership is enthusiastic about its potential. "The beauty of this program is its simplicity while increasing efficiency and effectiveness," said Col. Al Hunt, 375th Airlift Wing commander. "We're deliberately organizing, training and equipping our Airmen to respond to a wide variety of scenarios as an integrated team. This is a new culture for the Air Force and I am proud to say that Joint Total Force Scott is leading the way."