News

Practice makes perfect for 446th Operations Group crew

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jake Chappelle
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  "Train as you fight, fight as you train" is a motto that is plastered on walls and heard down the halls of military units around the world.

Whenever an Air Force aircraft takes off, whether on a local training mission or for a deployment to a combat zone, the motto's essence is felt starting from the aircraft as it soars into the troposphere.

A "routine" example is when a 446th Airlift Wing- C-17 Globemaster III crew departed for a two-day training mission to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 10-11. The crew's mission was to perform their respective in-flight duties, provide accountability for aircrew members, and support the aeromedical evacuation crew's training and to serve the airlift and Reserve mission.

"Everyone's duty on this mission contributes to the overall mission of the 446th Operations Group in their own unique way," said Lt. Col. Mike Blumenschein, 313th Airlift Squadron pilot and resource manager. "Everyone onboard, from (pilots) to loadmasters, to AE has training they have to fulfill, so they can stay current and deploy."

The pilots, for instance, needed overseas training to maintain their currencies in order to be ready to deploy and back up the active duty.

"The (operations) tempo requires so much support now, we need to stay up to speed on the C-17 systems and how flying overseas requires a different set of procedures," said Lt. Col. Paul Pearson, 313th AS evaluator pilot. "You can't fly if you're not current."

While the pilots made sure they maintained their flying qualifications, the loadmasters were evaluated on their job performance.

"I'm giving pyramid evaluations to the (313th AS) resource manager and their standard evaluation loadmaster," said Chief Master Sgt. Jim Masura, 446th OG standard evaluation loadmaster. "I wanted to make sure what I looked for in them gets passed down to the loadmasters in the (operations group)."

Some of that training was making sure the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Reservists were set up with what they needed for their part of the mission.

"Our responsibilities during AE missions are to operate and assist AE personnel with aircraft systems, operate doors, ramps, emergency exits, and the galley," said Senior Master Sgt. Terry Philon, 313th AS standard evaluation loadmaster. "We also help them coordinate emergency evacuation plans for patients with the (medical crew director), assist with aircraft configurations for AE operations, and assist the AE crew as necessary."

With the help of the loadmasters, AE could focus on their part of the mission.

"On this mission, we're training on providing care of a variety of patients none of us have ever treated on an aircraft such as, baby delivery," said Maj. Kristy Forbes, 446th AES professional development flight commander. "These scenarios are always possible, so we prepare for them on these missions."

While this wasn't a last-minute deployment into a combat zone or natural disaster area, the Reservists on this mission understand the next time they step onto a C-17, they'll receive a passing grade on their job.