Niagara supports WAREX

by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Caya
914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/5/2014 - NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -- Airmen from the 914th Airlift Wing were tasked with loading equipment on to a transient C-17 aircraft here April 24 bound for a joint exercise in which they will also participate.

Members of the 30th Aerial Port Squadron uploaded an all-terrain forklift and other equipment needed to support U.S. Military personnel at a Warrior Exercise, known as WAREX, in Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin.

WAREX is a joint military training exercise for future contingency missions. The 30th APS has been supporting WAREX and Global Medic since 2009.

While this is Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth Scholz's first time participating in WAREX, he knows this is not going to be like exercises he has participated in before.

"This is not like an operational readiness inspection, where we are graded on how well we do," said Scholz.

WAREX is the perfect opportunity for younger Airmen for training without the pressure of an inspector over your shoulder.

"It's a mock deployment and it will prepare the young Airmen for future deployments, and we deploy all the time." added Scholz.

Aerial Porter Senior Airman Christopher Fleming was one of the 30 APS Airmen who attended WAREX last year.

"It was a lot of fun with great training," said Fleming. "I learned a lot," he added, mentioning the abundant amount of time he was allotted training on mission-essential vehicles and processes.

"It was a good training environment with a good training pace," said Fleming. "I can't wait to get back out there."