Misawa Diesel Weasel Exercise kicks off

Published Sept. 9, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Chad Strohmeyer
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE -- The Misawa Diesel Weasel Exercise is underway with two weeks of intense training in the air and on land to prepare Airmen for their upcoming deployment.

Airmen from the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations flight are tested with convoy scenarios to give them a feel of what it would be like in a combat environment.

"Our goal for this exercise is to make it as real as possible", said Staff Sgt. Robert Coleman, 35th LRS vehicle operator."We would rather train in a controlled environment than learn as we go in a deployed location."

Simulated convoys will take place on base as opposing forces tries to slow them down.

"Opposing forces play an important role in this exercise," said Tech. Sgt. David Boyd, 610th Air Control Flight OPFOR role player. "This training is meant to save lives and equipment, so having the ability to be a part of it is a great feeling."

And because lives depend on what Airmen do in combat, there is no shortage of volunteers, including joint tactical air controllers, to help with different scenarios.

"Our role as JTAC in this exercise is to communicate with the pilots and provide them with accurate air-to-ground targeting information," said Senior Airman Darek Gorring, 604th Air Support Operations Squadron JTAC, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea. "Without proper communication to the pilots watching above, convoys would be in grave danger not knowing where the enemy is."

In addition to the JTACs, other volunteers came out to "play" in the exercise as enemy combatants and non-combatants.

"These players added a touch of realism," said Tech. Sgt. Marquis Travis, 35th LRS vehicle operations NCOIC. "Without the help from all of our volunteers, this exercise would not be nearly as effective."