MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -- The 167th Airlift Wing packed an extended drill weekend full of training and events, June 8-11.
A scheduled drill weekend of four days instead of the typical two days allowed members to participate in various training and free up the month of July for family time.
A job fair started off the four-day drill. Approximately 40 potential employers provided information to about 90 members of the 167th that were seeking employment.
Sherry Lewis, the Airman & Family Readiness Program Manager 167th, said the job fair was a success. The employers considered the Airmen to be strong candidates for positions they had open.
During a training rodeo, set up by base training, members were able to complete the required Self Aide Buddy Care (SABC), Law of Armed Conflict and Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive training.
Senior Master Sgt. Jason Meacham, the base education and training manager at the 167th, said the rodeo training keeps unit members proficient and up-to-date on training that is required for deployments.
Airmen from the 167th Fire Department and the 167th Maintenance Squadron fuel systems repair flight worked together during a confined space emergency extraction exercise that simulated a person losing consciousness inside C-17 Globemaster III fuel tank.
Master Sgt. Adam Pletcher, 167th fuel systems supervisor, said this was the first time an operational C-17 was used for the exercise. There was a lot of planning between multiple shops that allowed the exercise to run smoothly.
The 167th small air terminal conducted a rodeo challenge, where teams of three competed in four different challenges. The competition involved inspecting a 10k all terrain forklift, maneuvering through a 10k standard forklift obstacle course, a joint inspection and a chain-gate cargo build-up.
Chief Master Sgt. Mike Leonard, chief of the small air terminal at the 167th, said the challenges provided a good refresher before deployments and prepare the Airmen for real world missions by having them work under pressure.
The challenges showcased the talents of the Airmen as well as showed where more training may be needed, said Senior Master Sgt. Jody Miller, NCOIC of passenger services at the 167th.
The communications flight tested their Joint Incident Site Communication Capability (JISCC) kit. A JISCC is a rapidly deployable satellite-based communication system that provides internet, telephone and radio capabilities at sites where infrastructure does not exist or has been damaged by disaster.
Senior Master Sgt. Bradley Gloyd, the cyber operations superintendent, said the command cyber readiness inspection (CCRI) is coming up and one of the elements that will be graded is their continuity of operations plan (COOP).
Using the JISCC kit helps prepare communications for the CCRI by working through a scenario where the base loses its normal forms of communication.
The Medical Group was also busy with not only their routine duties of maintaining the wellness of the 167th Airmen, but also conducted five CPR classes, SABC training and participated in training to continue their proficiency in their additional duties such as the en route patient staging system (ERPSS-10).
Capt. Lori Wyatt, a clinical nurse at the 167th, said that learning CPR is important for anyone, anywhere. The first minutes of someone collapsing and requiring CPR is the most critical to saving their life. The ability to react quickly with quality CPR is what can save someone’s life.
Chief Master Sgt. David W. Stevens, the 167th wing command chief, organized an expeditionary fitness challenge with both strength and stamina events.
The course consisted of seven stations, where teams of five, moved as a unit from location to location and were scored by station and overall time.
Stevens said, “The idea is to build comradery and espirit de corps. The course will challenge the teams at both strength and stamina events.”