by Samuel King Jr.
Team Eglin Public Affairs
5/9/2013 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- As
a security forces Airman, you've just arrived for your deployment to
the Joint Defense Operations Center at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan.
The Airman you replaced left early so there's no transition period.
You've only been at your desk for five minutes when an alarm sounds and
bombs are incoming. You have a responsibility, a job to do... what's the
first step?
Fifteen deployers bound for Kandahar exercised this and similar
scenarios here, May 4 and 5. The Afghanistan-specific training was
facilitated by the 96th Ground Combat Squadron. It is a new and separate
element to the standard 17-day Brave Defender training all security
forces Airmen go through prior to each deployment. This is only the
third KAF class offered so far.
"Although the security forces career field hasn't officially
transitioned to mission-specific JDOC training, Brave Defender
recognized the need, leaned forward and developed a much-needed course,"
said Maj. James Habeck, the Brave Defender commander. "We built this at
no extra cost to the Air Force, and it's now officially recognized by
the Air Force Security Forces Center as a requirement to attend prior to
working in the KAF JDOC."
Senior Master Sgt. Michael Young, a recent JDOC battle captain came to Brave Defender to help with the four-day training.
"This training helps the Airmen familiarize themselves with the NATO
construct, JDOC language, specific checklists and interaction with other
countries," said Young. "It is vital to make the deployment transition
as seamless as possible. The mission is complex and with this training
we can prepare them on the many specific scenarios they are likely to
encounter. We're honing their core competencies and abilities to
exercise command and control."
The course consists of two days of indoctrination briefings and training
and two days of exercise scenarios. Afterward, the group joins up with
their Brave Defender class for the standard training.
"(When I found out) I was going to the JDOC, I was a little nervous and
did not know what to expect. Now after this training I feel confident
about my job," said Staff Sgt. Amy Zieber, 139th Security Forces
Squadron. "They put us under pressure and saw how we did, which helped
me so much. I got an idea of what my job overseas would be like and
where my strong suits are and also what I need to work on."
The JDOC course introduces the deployers to area and crash maps, local
standard operating procedures, joint, coalition and host nation
relationships and challenges. The exercises provide high tempo command
and control training using current intelligence for the location and
create an environment mimicking the Airman's operations center
surroundings.
"I had no idea on what the (JDOC) job entailed and what it was all
about," said Senior Airman Torrey Erbes, from the 460th Security Forces
Squadron at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. "Just from the modified
training course we received, I feel more prepared to head down range and
work in JDOC, rather than if I had just the typical regional training
course I've received in the past. This course was without question
beneficial."
Friday, May 10, 2013
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