Members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and the Minnesota-based 210th Engineering Installation Squadron conducted Operation Thunderwolf, a weeklong joint training exercise designed to strengthen integration and readiness ahead of an upcoming deployment.
The exercise began three years ago as a flyaway concept, giving the two units an opportunity to train together before deploying. After the first iteration was hosted by the 210th EIS in Minnesota last year, Oklahoma Airmen led this year’s event at Camp Gruber.
“You don’t get a second chance when you’re out there,” said the commander of the Oklahoma engineering installation unit. “These are the times to learn, to make mistakes and to better ourselves.”
The exercise tested the units’ ability to move personnel, tools and heavy equipment into an austere environment. Leaders coordinated lodging, meals, hygiene support and medical services for the combined force to mirror the conditions Airmen may face during deployment.
“Everything is logistics — having the right tools and the right people in the right place at the right time,” said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alan Kroth, chief of installations for the 210th EIS. "I thought our planners this year did a really good job of ensuring that we had really thoughtful logistics plans and executed them well."
Training also incorporated support from security forces, aeromedical and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear personnel to simulate deployed conditions. Airmen conducted communications and infrastructure tasks while operating in Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear during simulated attack scenarios.
“We did really good copper training in less-than-ideal conditions,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Matt Boros, a cable and antenna systems technician with the 210th EIS. “Having to learn to adapt and overcome issues like that was a great takeaway.”
Leaders said the exercise’s greatest value was building cohesion between the two units before deployment.
“You can’t tell where Oklahoma begins and the 210th stops; they’re just one group,” the Oklahoma commander said. “That is what will set us up for success when we get down range.