Courtesy Photo | Readiness Challenge IX Team Air National Guard poses for one final group photo with...... read more read more
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One of our very own 176th Civil Engineer Squadron fire truck crews was selected to represent the Air National Guard at Readiness Challenge IX. The eight teams were organized by major command and included Airman from all components of the Air Force. Participants from around the globe were tasked with performing more than a dozen exercises to test the expeditionary skills and readiness to perform the base engineer mission in a contested environment.
Multi-Capable Airmen, capable of performing tasks outside their primary job specialty, were needed in almost every event. Teams performed multiple, complex tasks to include aircraft in-flight emergency, vehicle fire, Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer matting for expedient airfield damage repair, tent and landing zone construction, and aircraft arresting system setup. Joining a hybrid team of 39 Engineers from 10 civil engineer squadrons, the Alaska team consisted of Master Sgt. Michael Knecht, Staff Sgt. Ryan Pickett, Staff Sgt. Zachary Tupper-Wilson, Senior Airman Joshua Fleming, Airman Sam Neff and Airman Jody Doyon.
The uniqueness of the ANG citizen Airmen and their breadth of civilian firefighting and rescue experience were no match for Active Duty and Reserve Airmen.
Readiness Challenge was established in 1986 for Air Force Civil Engineers to test their readiness to perform the full spectrum of Integrated Base Response and Recovery operations. After a 20-year pause, it’s back. This year’s competition was very exciting and came down to the final event to determine the winner.
“This is not the end,” said Brig. Gen. William Kale, Air Force Civil Engineer Center Commander, in his closing remarks. “This is actually, the beginning. What we’re doing here today is preparing you for what you might see in the future. Readiness Challenge is the most realistic training our Airmen will get in preparation for combat operations.”
Doyon was named the Top Performer for Team ANG received a coin from Kale. Knecht was recognized for his electric leadership and motivation. He was coined by Col. James Oaksford, National Guard Bureau Readiness Division chief.
Overall, the ANG took second place by a narrow margin to the engineers from Air Combat Command. Our 176th CES Firefighters took first place in most fire and rescue exercises they competed in. It’s an incredible honor to compete on the national level, and our Arctic Guardians represented Alaska extremely well.
| Date Taken: | 05.16.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2023 18:22 |
| Story ID: | 445058 |
| Location: | TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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