Grizzly Rampart exercise keeps base primed and ready

by Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

3/24/2015 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Malmstrom Air Force Base team members took part in the installation's first Grizzly Rampart training exercise March 16-20. The exercise was implemented to evaluate the readiness of the 341st Missile Wing and ensure first-responder Airmen know and follow the standards set in place for real-world events.

"(Grizzly Rampart) was directed by the 341st Missile Wing commander with the intent of testing the wing's daily operations, as well as response to extenuating circumstances to include hostile actions, power outages, bomb threats, gate runners and individual task testing," said Doug Shaver, 341st Missile Wing inspector general.

Throughout the five-day event, on any given day, 30-40 inspectors from the wing inspection team were dispatched to different training scenarios to evaluate Airmen on their execution of protocols and team coordination capabilities.

In every scenario, the Airmen being evaluated were required to think on their feet and execute previously learned training tactics with precision and swiftness.

"One of the larger (simulations) included a launch facility attack while simultaneously having to relocate the Wing Command Post, Wing Security Control, Maintenance Operations Control, Crisis Action Team, Emergency Operations Center and the security forces armory," said Shaver.

The goal is to "train like we fight," said exercise participants. When responding to a scenario, the training is carried out as if it were an actual emergency.

According to Shaver, the way in which everyone handled themselves during these stressful mockups proved that Malmstrom is heading in the right direction when it comes to execution.

From response times to coordination and problem solving, the "players" displayed qualities that would greatly help diffuse a situation should something happen in real life.

"The wing's overall response to the exercise showed once again that Malmstrom's finest continue to execute the mission in a professional and prideful manner, on a daily basis," said Shaver. "We will no doubt continue to shine while taking every opportunity to improve ourselves even further as we move forward as a wing. Great job Wing One!  Keep it up."