133rd Airlift Wing participates in Readiness Safeguard Exercise

  • Published
  • By Capt. Sheree Savage
  • 133rd AW Public Affairs Officer
Volk Field, Wis. --  From preparing Airmen for deployment, to transporting them to and from training or combat, members from the 133rd Airlift Wing proved to be equipped and skilled for nearly any situation during the Readiness Safeguard training exercise at the Combat Readiness and Training Center at Volk Field, Wis. May 13 to 18, 2009.

Nearly 440 members deployed to Readiness Safeguard to participate in a preparatory exercise for the Wing's Operations Readiness Inspection in 2010.

"The exercise was complete with all the complexities of an ORI, from the ability to survive and operate in a chemical environment, to the basic fundamentals of launching airplanes, maintaining base security as well as air base support," said Col. Greg Haase, 133rd AW Commander.

133rd AW members joined Airmen from the 375th Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill. to conduct training. Both units benefited from practical training with realistic timelines and scenarios to increase unit readiness in order to be the best prepared for national and global missions.

During the exercise, members trained in all Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) levels, participated in litter evacuations, and conducted post attack reconnaissance to ensure the training area was cleared of simulated unexploded ordnance.

Readiness Safeguard not only provided a combat and chemical environment that increased troop readiness for 133rd AW members, four Croatian military members from the Air Force and support command observed how the U.S. Air Force prepares for a deployment.