Exercise tests Airmen's ability to survive and operate

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  More than 150 Airmen participated in "Ability to Survive and Operate" evaluation during the Operational Readiness Exercise here, Feb. 12. 

The exercise lasted four days with ATSO occurring on the last day. The ATSO portion of the exercise was set-up as a task-eval with stations, a change from what is known as phase two of an exercise or inspection. During phase two the base reacts to various ATSO scenarios as if they were the forward deployed location. 

"The ATSO evaluation is a look at the wings ability to survive in a combat situation," said Tech Sgt. Robert McConkey, 354th Fighter Wing Inspector General member. "It has been approved by Pacific Air Forces Inspector General and is being taken back to be instituted throughout other bases within the command with similar mission as ours." 

Airmen, to include one 354th Fighter Wing squadron commander, spent approximately three hours going through nine stations last week.

Each station tests an Airman's ability to respond to traditional and non-traditional attack scenarios. The stations included proper wear of chemical protective equipment, understanding current alarm signals and mission-oriented protective postures, contamination avoidance and control, ability to process through a contamination control area, how to perform self-aid buddy care and the ability to perform post-attack reconnaissance.

The first to go through the course were Maj. Gerald Mulhollen, 354th Security Forces Squadron commander, and Tech. Sgt. Justin Buchholz, 354th SFS member. 

"Major Mulhollen and Sergeant Buchholz set the bar," said Master Sgt. Jeffery Dreier, 354th Fighter Wing Inspector General member. "They had a great attitude and displayed proficiency on the tasks." 

Only 14 out of 162 participants passed every station and Major Mulhollen was one of them

"If my unit sees me out there," said Maj. Mulhollen, "I feel they'll be more willing to get involved. I think it's important to lead from the front, not the rear."

The Airmen chosen are the same ones that would be tagged to forward deploy in a real-world situation. They were given two days notice, approximately the same as if they were really to deploy, to get their chemical gear ready and brush up on skills needed. They were encouraged to study using their Airman's manual, which was also available as quick reference during the evaluation.

"It comes down to training and practice," said Maj. Mulhollen. "The more you practice, the better you'll get at it." 

Even 354th IG team has taken steps to improve-- in order to better the flow of operations, each ATSO evaluation changes a little bit. For this evaluation, attitude was added to the score sheet. A person's attitude has the ability to affect their overall outcome.

"It's a vital step in the war fighting process and is something that needs to be taken seriously," said Sergeant McConkey, "anybody can be deployed anytime, anywhere and this is just one of the skill sets that they're going to need at their deployed location." 

Eielson's IG team stressed how important it is for Airmen to know the information, or at least where to find, it at all times.

"It's really good training," said Maj. Mulhollen. "People have got to realize that we're not only preparing for an operational readiness inspection, but we're preparing for real life."