News>Air Commandos hone skills during readiness exercise
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Capt. Jason Gossett (back) and Airman 1st Class David Rodriguez (right) assist Staff Sgt. Orlando Lopez with donning his Aircrew Eye and Respiratory Protection System, or AERPS, during a local operational readiness exercise here Oct 26. The AERPS is an aircraft-integrated, self-contained oxygen and filtration system with aircraft-integrated electronics, communications and oxygen capabilities which allows the crews to continue their mission in a chemical warfare environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Aaron Kay, a loadmaster with the 1st Special Operations Squadron, and maintainers from the 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron monitor the engine start of a MC-130H Combat Talon II during a local operational readiness exercise here Oct 26. Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group honed their wartime readiness during exercise Beverly High 12-1 Oct. 24-28 (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen form the 353rd Special Operations Group read their Airman's Manual while taking cover from an attack during a local operational readiness exercise here Oct 27. Airmen from the group honed their wartime readiness during exercise Beverly High 12-1 Oct. 24-28 (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airmen Garrett Foster (right), Staff Sgts. Tara Gibson and Frank Wilhite review the procedures for detecting contamination on M8 paper during a post-attack reconnaissance sweep outside a facility following a simulated attack during a local operational readiness exercise here Oct 27. Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group honed their wartime readiness during exercise Beverly High 12-1 Oct. 24-28 (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Christopher Cebelak , 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, reports contamination findings during a post-attack reconnaissance sweep outside a facility following a simulated attack during a local operational readiness exercise here Oct 27. Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group honed their wartime readiness during exercise Beverly High 12-1 Oct. 24-28 (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Aaron Cram)
11/4/2011 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- More than 300 members and several aircraft assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group spent nearly a week here testing and assessing their wartime readiness.
In conjunction with the 18th Wings local operational readiness exercise Beverly High 12-1, the Air Commandos simulated a deployment to hone their skills Oct. 24-28.To maximize the training opportunity, SOG Airmen worked around-the-clock for nearly a month testing and evaluating the full spectrum of tasks the members of the group can be tapped to perform.
The group's exercise simulated ground and air attacks, casualty events, operating in a chemical warfare environment, generating and maintaining aircraft, flying various special operations missions, and career-specific tasks that tested almost every combat support specialty within the unit.
