Mobility Training

Airmen in the 335th Training Squadron are inspected for mandatory items during a bag drag inspection at the “Introduction to Mobility” training day for non-prior service Airmen at Davis Manor, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 13, 2015. Airmen participated in pre-deployment training scenarios such as: going through a mobility processing line, administering self-aid and buddy care, reviewing the steps for wearing chemical warfare gear and receiving a pre-deployment briefing. The training was conducted to better prepare Keesler’s Airmen for deployment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Mobility Training

Airman Basic Austin Denney, 335th Training Squadron student, and Master Sgt. Fred Demming, 335th TRS special operations weather instructor, administer self-aid and buddy care on Airman 1st Class Cameron Champ, 335th TRS student, during an “Introduction to Mobility” training day for non-prior service Airmen March 13, 2015, at Davis Manor, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Airmen participated in pre-deployment training scenarios such as: going through a mobility processing line, administering self-aid and buddy care, reviewing the steps for wearing chemical warfare gear and receiving a pre-deployment briefing. The training was conducted to better prepare Keesler’s Airmen for deployment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Mobility Training

Staff Sgt. Deltron McRae, 81st Force Support Squadron career development technician, speaks to 335th Training Squadron Airmen about the importance of the mobility processing line during an “Introduction to Mobility” training day for non-prior service Airmen at Davis Manor, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 13, 2015. Airmen participated in pre-deployment training scenarios such as: going through a mobility processing line, administering self-aid and buddy care, reviewing the steps for wearing chemical warfare gear and receiving a pre-deployment briefing. The training was conducted to better prepare Keesler’s Airmen for deployment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Mobility Training

Airman 1st Class Raechel Oyen, Airman Nasia Brown and Airman 1st Class Camerae Lang, 335th Training Squadron students, utilize the “buddy system” to secure chemical warfare gear on Oyen during an “Introduction to Mobility” training day for non-prior service Airmen at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 13, 2015. Airmen participated in pre-deployment training scenarios such as: going through a mobility processing line, administering self-aid and buddy care, reviewing the steps for chemical warfare gear and receiving a pre-deployment briefing. The training was conducted to better prepare Keesler’s Airmen for deployment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Mobility Training

Airmen in the 335th Training Squadron run from Davis Manor to Connor Manor while transitioning between training stations during an “Introduction to Mobility” training day for non-prior service Airmen at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, March 13, 2015. Airmen participated in pre-deployment training scenarios such as: going through a mobility processing line, administering self-aid and buddy care, reviewing the steps for chemical warfare gear and receiving a pre-deployment briefing. The training was conducted to better prepare Keesler’s Airmen for deployment operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Keesler training squadron hosts mobility training

Published March 16, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Duncan McElroy
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 335th Training Squadron held its first "Introduction to Mobility" training event March 13 for technical school Airmen at the Connor Manor and Davis Manor student dormitories.

The training was conducted to help prepare Airmen for deployment operations, as well as reinforce lessons learned during basic military training, explained Master Sgt. Antonio Washington, 335th TRS career field training manager and "Introduction to Mobility" lead coordinator.

"This program was developed to help our Airmen be more operationally ready and trainable when they get to their first duty stations," Washington said. "That way, when they do have an exercise or they get notification of a deployment, they have some prior knowledge of how the process works -- it won't be their first experience with chemical gear or an Airman's Manual."

The more than 200 Airmen were divided into four groups and traveled between Connor Manor and Davis Manor to different stations. The students participated in pre-deployment briefs, a bag drag, equipment inspection, self-aid and buddy care scenarios and mission-oriented protective posture gear area, where teams of two to three Airmen helped each other don protective chemical gear.

"This training helps us remember that we're Airmen, not just students, and ultimately our mission is to deploy," explained Lt. Col. Betsy Ross, 335th TRS commander. "Our intentions are to allow Airmen to leave here with a better understanding of our mission and less anxiety when they hit their first deployment."

Set in a more relaxed environment than when they initially learned these lessons during BMT, the technical school Airmen had a chance to brush up on their skills while having fun and learning some tricks of the trade from their military training leaders.

For example, one thing Airmen learned was the rubber outer-boot of their MOPP gear is much easier to put on if they first put a plastic shopping bag over their normal boots.

"It was a good refresher from everything we learned at basic expeditionary airman skills training during BMT," said Airman Basic Devin Hearl, 335th TRS student. "I'll have a more clear idea of how to operate during a deployment once I become operational, because this information will be fresher in my mind."

Washington hopes to expand the training into a quarterly rotation, and to include more fun and informative stations like litter-carrying races and a tour of the 403rd Wing's C-130J Hercules, an aircraft similar to what they may encounter during a deployment.