MacDill vehicle ops unit ramps up realistic training

by Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Gonterman
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

11/21/2013 - MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Since 2003, Air Force vehicle operators have been tasked with providing convoy support for the operations conducted in the Middle East; and due to the extreme nature of these taskings, Team MacDill's 6th Logistic Readiness Squadron engineered its first of many modified Combat Convoy Courses on Nov. 2.

Prior to each deployment, vehicle operator personnel must train to meet a full range of tasks that prepare them for the multitude of situations that may arise during wartime and hostile convoy and contingency operations.

In support of the first annual training were the Joint Communications Support Element, 6th Security Forces Squadron, and the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, who provided first hand experiences and mimicked real-world scenarios.

"Our goal was to conduct ultrarealistic convoy operations and the JCSE, SFS, CE (Fire-Department) did just that." said Master Sgt. Thomas Dulin, 6th LRS, vehicle operations supervisor. "Each entity played an integral role in our training, which allowed us to make it as realistic has possible,"

The training introduced a diversified set of "mock" threat scenarios to include: vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices detection, small arms fire ambushes, vehicle recovery procedures, and proper vehicle formation attack and assessment roles. Additional training insertions keyed in on self-aid buddy care (SABC), calling in "9-lines," and helicopter evacuations procedures.

"The vehicle operations training section successfully taught our Airmen how to effectively communicate and respond in high pressure situations," stated Tech. Sgt. Gany Gamboa, 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO-in-charge of training. "It's was a fantastic way for the seasoned operators to refresh ourselves and pass on our experiences with the younger Airmen, so that they will be able to anticipate and react to the situations they might face while deployed."

Because of the overwhelming success of the modified Combat Convoy Courses training, the vehicle operators expand upon their successful benchmark and have now begun to schedule quarterly refreshers.