Fight the Base exercise changes face of typical defenders

Published Jan. 25, 2008
By Senior Airman Christie Putz
375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Members of the 375th Mission Support Group defended the base against simulated attackers during the fifth Fight the Base exercise recently.

"Intelligence drops started Friday, which signaled a build up to something occurring on the base," said Master Sgt. Neal Thurston, 375th Security Forces Squadron security forces training NCO in charge. "On Monday, the hostilities began and personnel were recalled to help defend the base."

The scenario included opposition forces positioned outside the perimeter trying to destroy the base's critical infrastructure. Simulated events included vehicles carrying vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices attempting entry at the gates, incoming mortar rounds and full-scale firefights.

Every attempt was made to try and make the exercise as realistic as possible, including using blank ammunition in weapons and smoke grenades for concealment.

"We try to emulate instead of simulate," said Sergeant Thurston, adding that more is retained when personnel are actually engaging rather than simply simulating actions.

This week's Fight the Base exercise was the most comprehensive to date with the actual deployment of forces into the field to take up fighting positions.

"We also tested our command and control structure more than ever before," the sergeant said. "We gave them several scenarios and they were responsible for leading their forces. We beat them up a little bit."

The goal of the exercise though, is to truly test each section and gauge their responses, allowing evaluators and participants alike a chance to see where improvements can be made before an actual event occurs.

"We found a few gaps in training, but overall we did great," said Col. Brad Spacy, 375th MSG commander. "It went on for two days in brutal cold weather. Our Airmen were 'attacked' numerous times by opposition forces and they repelled the attacks and captured the enemy."

An estimated 200 Airmen participated in the exercise warfighting, or 250 including role players and Fight the Base cadre. Airmen were assigned to 13-person squads and were given pre-determined sectors around the base to protect against attackers.

"Fight the Base gives every Airman a role in protecting the base," said Colonel Spacy. "In a major disaster, 90 percent of Airmen typically shelter in place. Under this plan, 90 percent go out to fight and only 10 percent shelter in place."

By training and using Airmen already on the base, this plan instantly gives the wing commander more manpower for base defense.

"Security forces only go so far, and our Airmen want to help" said Colonel Spacy.

Among the MSG alone there are more than 700 Airmen trained and ready to repel enemy forces at any given time, he said. With plans to soon include the 375th Communications Group, that number will only grow.

Training that many people at once would be near impossible, so several opportunities exist for Airmen to further their tactical skills prior to exercising. The first, and probably most hands-on, is the Fight the Base class during Expeditionary Combat Skills Training where Airmen are trained for an additional day on ground combat tactics.

"Another opportunity is called Sergeants Time training," said Sergeant Thurston. "Leaders from each of the units set aside time to train forces on tactical team movements, the use of night vision devices or various other skills pertinent to the mission."

Training doesn't stop there though. Something new to this Fight the Base exercise was the inclusion of Simunitions training during the exercise itself.

For this type of training, converted M-16 rifles shoot reduced-energy, non-lethal cartridges that leave a water soluble, paint-like solution at the point of impact. This marking allows accurate assessment of simulated lethality.

"Security Forces have used this type of training for quite a while," said the colonel. "But now that we are getting our other Airmen up to speed, we're happy to be able to share this training with them also."

A total of 78 people, the equivalent of six squads, were exposed to the Simunitions training during the two days, which was a first for the Fight the Base exercises.

However, base defense is not the only skill to which these Airmen are exposed. The other half of the Fight the Base exercises is called Recover the Base. In these types of exercises, Airmen perform lifesaving missions or disaster recovery operations after a major disaster, on or off base.

The 375th MSG's plan for Fight the Base, Recover the Base has gained some exposure with outside agencies.

Officials from Air Staff sent representatives from the Pentagon to observe last week's exercise in preparation for a new Air Force Instruction being written, titled Installation Arming and Response, a.k.a. Fight the Base, said the colonel. The new instruction will be modeled after the 375th MSG's defense and recovery operations.

Additionally, a new modeling and simulation program from the Air Force Innovation Division, also developed from some aspects of the group's exercises, will allow users to fight battles from their computer screens in a computer-based training type of program.

The next Fight the Base exercise is scheduled for February, with specific dates to be announced at a later time. Anticipated changes to the training will be an increase in the number and difficulty-level of scenarios.

"We keep underestimating how much our Airmen can do," said Colonel Spacy. "We keep planning exercises and then finding out we could have pushed them further."

Additional training, both classroom and hands-on, is also on the horizon for Fight the Base participants.

"The more we train," said the colonel, "the better prepared we will be."