Exercise Global Guardian prepares Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Courtney Richardson
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Airmen from the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., participated in Global Guardian 2012, a joint operation exercise, at the National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 13-24.

Global Guardian is an annual Air National Guard sponsored training exercise that emphasizes full spectrum operations while providing personnel and units an opportunity to work at a simulated deployed joint expeditionary wing.

"We took 14 aircraft and a total of 175 Airmen from the maintenance group along with a few reservists from the 414th Fighter Group to participate in the exercise," said Senior Master Sgt. Allen Daniels, 333rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent. "I believe this exercise was extremely beneficial to everyone, especially the aircrew members in training."

The training exercise was designed to prepare units to deploy, conduct direct and indirect combat operations and redeploy safely to home base. It allows them to train in a realistic joint and multinational environment that simulates situations seen in modern combat.

Global Guardian was a unique experience for many of the Airmen who participated in it. They were given the opportunity to perform their mission at a new location under unique conditions and observe the mission of the Army and coalition forces.

"This experience was an eye opener for a lot of the newer Airmen as far as working in a joint environment," Daniels said. "They toured different airframes and met and trained with units from the Army and foreign nations in order to make this exercise a success."

During the exercise Seymour Johnson Airmen maintained the F-15E Strike Eagle, while the aircrews participated in mock air-to-air and air-to-ground scenarios while working with joint terminal attack controllers and ground commanders.

"We completed 124 sorties on-time and dropped 35 laser guided munitions, all with no mishaps or safety incidents," Daniels said. "I am extremely proud of what the Airmen accomplished as a team. They exceeded all expectations. The synergy amongst the maintainers and aircrews was awesome."

This was the first time many of these Airmen have participated in an exercise of this measure.

"This exercise really gave me a sense of what spectrum the Air Force's mission encompasses, as well as, a better understanding of how the Air Force operates on a global scale," said Senior Airman Russell Hutchins, a 333rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member.

Hutchins also said he appreciates being given the opportunity to participate in this exercise along with interacting with our sister service and coalition forces.

Seymour Johnson Airmen met the total force initiative of the exercise which was to, "train the way we fight." Overall the team sustained 100 percent maintenance ready; 100 percent weapons release rate and 100 percent mission effectiveness rate.