Red Devil gives Airmen taste of deployed life

Published March 16, 2007
By Steve Brady
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- About 150 Airmen from the 21st Space Wing recently deployed from Peterson to the high desert plains on Fort Carson for Exercise Red Devil.

The group, made up of Airmen in Air Expeditionary Forces that could deploy in the next few months, deployed March 11 for a week for convoy operations, weapons evaluations, self aid and buddy care, and other academic lessons.

The training provided a realistic experience that cannot be duplicated on Peterson, due to space limitations.

"No doubt about it, I've been in 20 years, and this is the best training I've ever had," said Master Sgt. Billy York, superintendent of relocations and employments for the 21st Mission Support Squadron. He said he may be deploying with AEF 7/8.

"This is the training that is going to save our life," he said. "It gives us the familiarization so that when we get to the theater and come under small arms attack, we know how to protect ourselves, and more importantly, how to protect our Warrior Airmen that are with us."

The training goes beyond the "traditional" Air Force roles, reflecting current needs in the area of responsibility.

"We don't know what's going to happen in that part of the world. They could be called up to go anywhere," said Lt. Col. Chris Wright, the deputy commander for the 21st Mission Support Group. "The point of getting our Airmen out here is to get an M-16 in their hands and get them exposed to convoys and rifle fighting, how to clean the weapon and shoot it, how to communicate in a combat environment.

"This isn't a weekend camping trip for us, this is the real deal," Colonel Wright said. "Anything we can teach an Airmen out here that may help save their life, save somebody else's life, keep them out of trouble, that's exactly why we're doing this, to give them those skills they need."

The exercise gives instructors the chance to evaluate the Airmen off the battlefield.

"We want our deployers to learn these skills first-hand at home station, not at their deployed location," said Wayne Porter, 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron senior exercise director. "Red Devil also allows us to evaluate our troops in action under field conditions, before they actually deploy in support of the war on terrorism," he said.

The Airmen showed they had learned from the training.

"They've accepted the things we've been teaching them and showed a great improvement over the last few days," said Master Sgt. Paul Thomas, a flight NCOIC for a tactical air control party with the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron.

The 13th ASOS, stationed at Fort Carson, integrates joint firepower and advanced weather technology in support of Army operations worldwide, and provided the training for the Airmen.

The training is vital is today's Air Force, organizers said.

"It's important because nowadays you never know exactly where you may be," Sergeant Thomas said. "You may be pulled out to support one of the other branches with convoy support. So to give them that perspective and give them some reactionary skills, we're hoping we can potentially save a life."