Squadron includes sister services in warrior weekend challege

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Candy Miller
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 366th Training Squadron held their quarterly combat warrior weekend challenge event differently June 27 when they included the Army and Navy students in the event. 

"Joint combat training is an opportunity for the students to learn what to expect in a deployed environment by combining their combat training with their technical training," said Staff Sgt. Lakeith Manson, 366th TRS military training leader. "It's rare to deploy without the other branches." 

He said not all squadrons are assigned services as part of the squadron and the 366th TRS was the first in the 82nd Training Wing to utilize its sister services during warrior weekend challenges. 

During the exercise, Air Force instructors were head of the technical aspect of the exercise including practicing heating, venting and air conditioning, water purification, water fuels management and electrical maintenance in a deployed environment. 

The Army instructors and drill sergeants taught the students improvised explosive device sweeps, fighting positions, patrol and other combat situations. The Navy lead the self aid and buddy care and tent build up and tear down. 

"Three-levels should know what to do in a deployed environment to prepare for being a five-level," Sergeant Manson said. "They won't know everything but it's better to have a little knowledge and be familiar it. We want them ready." 

Army Staff Sgt. Francisco Renfroe, a drill sergeant at the 366th TRS' Army detachment who worked joint operations during two deployments to Iraq, said he agreed that the students benefited from the training. 

"A lot of students got to do things they are not usually trained on but will do (on deployments,)" he said. "I think the exercise is good for their level of training, we kept everything basic for them to learn." 

He also said he ran check points in Iraq just as he trained students to do in the exercise.
Army Pvt. Geoffrey Glover, a water fuels management student, said the exercise helped him grow more respect for his sister services. 

"We worked as a team and built camaraderie to accomplish the mission," he said.
Sergeant Manson said he hopes the other services continue to participate in the warrior weekend challenges. 

"This is a precursor to our long-term goal of involving other training groups in the warrior weekend challenges," he said. He said participation from other groups will make the exercise more realistic. 

Warrior weekend challenge is a program of weekend activities to develop leadership skills, team-building, and expeditionary skills in AiT.