Airmen hone warrior skills one shovelful at a time

  • Published
  • By Daryl Mayer
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  In a scene more common in a host of deployed areas, legions of Airmen from the 88th Air Base Wing assembled December 30 to fill sandbags, build defensive fighting positions and harden facilities in Wright-Patterson Warfighter Training Center.

"We needed to get a lot of sandbags filled and the best way to get that done is with a lot of people," said Col. Bradley Spacy, 88 ABW commander. "All the chiefs and colonels decided to come out with the troops just to show we know how to do this too."

"I'd rather be out here filling sandbags than sitting behind my desk," he said.

The need for the bags was part of a process started some six months ago. The former Prime Beef training area needed some maintenance and Lt. Col. Scott Katz, 88th Mission Support Group deputy commander, and his Base Readiness team stepped up to get the job done.

The work Tuesday was to bring existing structures up to current field operating standards, according to Colonel Katz. Some positions were built to enable the safe use of ground burst simulators thereby enhancing the realism of future training scenarios.

"In addition to reusing this great facility, these are also vital warrior skills Airmen need to deploy or for an Operational Readiness Inspection," Colonel Katz said.

As part of the slate of changes introduced by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, all inspections are no longer scheduled. The "no-notice" nature encourages units to enhance readiness year-round by practicing their warrior skills.

"This is a job that is often passed off, but really couldn't be more important," said Colonel Spacy.

Explaining there is a right way and wrong way for how to fill the bag, how to tie it and even how to stack them, Colonel Spacy said the consequences for taking short cuts can be severe.

"This is important stuff. Airmen are graded on these abilities and appropriately so," Colonel Spacy said. "If you do this wrong, the structure won't be able to take incoming rounds and your life could be at risk."