News

Civil engineers head to Silver Flag

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift WIng Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Training to do your job under field conditions can be a great opportunity, if you can get it. Twelve Reservists with the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron are getting that chance as they depart for Florida Sept. 12.

Heading to Silver Flag at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., for a week of training, the 446th CES Airmen represent a variety of skills, anywhere from electrical power production to emergency management.

"Silver Flag provides training that builds on what a Reservist has already learned through their formal school and on-the-job training," said Senor Master Sgt. Ed Vallejo, 446th CES operations management superintendent.

"It's almost like an ORI (operational readiness inspection). We're required to attend every four years, but because there is limited space, we usually have people going every year so everyone gets the training," said Vallejo.

Silver Flag cadres put trainees through a series of exercise scenarios under a stress environment. The Airmen are required to demonstrate they are capable of doing their job while being attacked from ground or air with either chemical or conventional weapons, according to Vallejo.

"We also get the opportunity to work on equipment or systems specifically designed for contingency operations that are not available at our home station. Expertise on these systems are critical when civil engineers deploy in support of contingency operations," he said.

The Silver Flag program provides training in Command and Control, Electrical, Engineering, EOD, Fire, HVAC, Operations Management, Pavements and Equipments, Power Production, Structures and Utilities Systems. Some members will receive training in "non-traditional" tasks that are beyond their assigned AFSC.

The training is a weeklong and typically attended by 150 civil engineers from across the Air Force. Silver Flag training is also open to Airmen from force support squadrons, services flights, and financial management.

"We find it incredibly valuable to work with other career fields in this contingency environment," said Vallejo. "An added benefit is to connect with Reserve, active and Guard CE units from other bases. Sharing best practices and working as a single team is fun and a great training opportunity."