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Wing Training Day Vital to Readiness at Lajes
Posted 8/15/2012 Updated 8/16/2012
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by 1st Lt. Mark Graff
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
8/15/2012 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- On the second Tuesday of every month, units at Lajes Field take advantage of the 65th Air Base Wing's training day. Airmen utilize each training day in a variety of different ways, from hands-on self aid and buddy care training to completing career development courses or finishing computer based training.
The goal of wing training day is to assist leaders with maintaining a high state of readiness.
According to Chief Master Sergeant Curtis Storms, 65 ABW command chief master sergeant, the key to successful wing training days is providing commanders flexibility in determining how their respective units will utilize the day.
"Wing leadership gives commanders the day and it's up to them to develop the training," said Storms. "Some focus on ancillary training, core group discussions or sitting down with Airmen and discussing leadership."
Lajes Field leadership instituted the training day in early 2012 and by all measures, it has been effective.
"The track record (for wing training day) is very good. Ancillary training numbers are very good. We're constantly striving to meet or exceed expectations," said Storms.
Wing training day is also used to hone warfighting skills in efforts to maintain a high level of deployment readiness for all, but specifically, to ensure that deploying Airmen are prepared for their upcoming missions.
"I've seen the medical group conduct 'train the trainer' events for SABC and the logistics readiness squadron going down to security forces and firing weapons," said Storms. "Our deployers are going down range fully prepared."
When it comes to determining what training Airmen need to complete, commanders and supervisors can work with to the 65th Force Support Squadron's Consolidated Unit Training Management office.
Tech. Sgt. Rhokea Daniel and Staff Sgt. Dionisio Casas, 65th Force Support Squadron consolidated unit training managers, are responsible for tracking upgrade training for the more than 50 different Air Force Specialty Codes assigned to Lajes Field.
"We provide the commanders with the most current ancillary training statistics. We push this information to the squadrons - like who is in upgrade training and who requires annual total force awareness training," said Daniel.
In addition to ancillary and deployment training, wing leadership utilizes the monthly training day to sharpen emergency response capabilities. In August, crisis action team and emergency operations center personnel came together to enhance communication and coordination efforts between the two crisis response entities.
The next wing training day is Tuesday, September 11.
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