FORT SILL, Okla.- 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade continues to train for their assumption of Contingency Expeditionary Force or CEF later this year. Their latest training objective was to certify their Air Load Teams, to accomplish this task they convoyed with over 30 pieces of equipment to Altus Air Force Base for some hands-on training.
Altus Air Force Base is home to the 97th Operational Support Squadron, which is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing. One of their jobs is to instruct personnel on the proper loading, securing, and un-loading of equipment on the C-17 airframe. On occasion the 97th OSS will facilitate joint-training with the U.S. Army to assist in teaching Soldiers proper loading, tie-down, and un-loading procedures.
Tech Sgt Donnie McCorkle, a loadmaster in the 97th Operational Support Squadron was eager and very happy to assist in the training.
"This has been great, and this is awesome for us to do the real hands-on loading process. We are keeping our proficiency and the Soldiers are getting training which is a great way to enhance the relationship between the Army and Air Force."
For new Soldiers straight out of Advanced Individual Training or AIT this was their first chance to get this sort of hands-on-training.
"This is giving me the basic knowledge I need of loading my equipment which I haven't learned yet, this isn't something you learn in AIT," said Pfc. Nicholas Murray of Delta Battery, 4-3 ADA.
"This partnership is great; they have resource we don't, so being able to rely on one another helps both branches work together."
Sgt. Kanon Bouldin of Higher Headquarters Battery, 4-3 ADA said, "This training allows Soldiers straight out of AIT to see the whole process of deploying not only themselves, but their equipment as well.
The Commander of Charlie Battery, 4-3 ADA Capt. Michael Savageau stressed the importance of this training in regards to overall mission readiness.
"This training is going very well so far, I feel it is beneficial to the air load teams and the Soldiers. The convoy operations to Altus from Fort Sill were great as well," said Savageau.
"This gives them the appreciation of maintaining their equipment and knowing the importance of keeping it mission ready."
Overall the air load training was a beneficial event with both the Army and Air Force gaining the experience and training needed to maintain and increase their levels of proficiency.
"The air force and army work well together because we both benefit from this type of event. They facilitate this training but they also get training of their own," said Sgt. 1st Class Tony Coleman, Alpha Battery 4-3 ADA.
4-3 ADA will assume CEF later this year and be part of a global contingency expeditionary force that can rapidly deploy if called upon.
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