Sailor comes to Alaska to train with Airmen

Photo By Sgt. Michael Risinger | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Iesha Richardson with the 673d Communications Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, stands with U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Shildgen with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) out of Coronado, California, while outside of the All-Domain Operations Capability (ADOC) structure on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, May 12, 2021, in support of flight operations on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and Gulf of Alaska during Exercise Northern Edge 2021 (NE21). "The first two days we joked about the stereotypes and got to know each other but it's been fun," Richardson said. "I've learned a lot. He taught me a few tricks. There's actually a form that they make themselves that I think would be really helpful and it still meets the NSA standards so that was really cool." Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members are participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. NE21 is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs. Image edited to remove security badge information. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Michael Risinger)  

JBER, ALASKA, UNITED STATES

05.12.2021

Story by Sgt. Michael Risinger 

Pacific Air Forces

Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members participated in exercise Northern Edge 2021 (NE21), taking place on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area. While most service members were ordered to participate, some, like U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Shildgen with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) out of Coronado, California, saw volunteering to participate in NE21 as an opportunity to expand his capabilities.

"I volunteered for it thinking it would be cool to travel to Alaska, but also to work with other branches and see how they operate and see what a joint exercise looks like," Shildgen said.

NE21, which happened May 3-14, is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercises designed to sharpen the joint forces’ skills; to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures; to improve command, control and communication relationships; and to develop cooperative plans and programs.

The exercise gave service members the opportunity to train alongside other branches. Shildgen worked closely with several members of the U.S. Air Force.

"The first two days we joked about the stereotypes and got to know each other, but it's been fun," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Iesha Richardson with the 673 Communications Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "I've learned a lot. He taught me a few tricks. There's actually a form that they make themselves that I think would be really helpful, and it still meets the NSA standards so that was really cool."

Shildgen and Richardson provided support to the All-Domain Operations Capability (ADOC) and the Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG). The role of the JECG is to plan operations which the ADOC then executes.

"Supporting the ADOC as well as JECG has been interesting, especially from a joint perspective helping out all teams of the fight: Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines as well," Shildgen stated.

Shildgen has taken advantage of the Alaska exercise while also reconnecting with a compatriot he was stationed with in 2014.

"I even have a friend from a squadron I was previously stationed with,” Shildgen said. “I was able to hang out with and go to some of those places like Moose's Tooth and some other restaurants with kind of funny names but great locations,"

The Sailor and Airman have plans to continue their joint-service friendship.

"I'm from California, so I actually plan on going back at the end of the year," Richardson said. "I'm gonna hit him up if he's still there. I made a new friend."

• Date Taken: 05.12.2021
• Date Posted: 05.15.2021 15:40
• Story ID: 396535
• Location: JBER, ALASKA, US
• Hometown: SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS, US