Wing Civil Engineers deploy for Silver Flag training

  • Published
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
Thirty-five members from the 507th Air Refueling Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron will deploy August 21 to Tyndall AFB, Florida, to attend two-week Silver Flag training.

The Silver Flag Exercise Site 68-person cadre provides combat support training to active-duty units, the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, Army, Marine Corps and allied nations.

During the five and one-half day primary course, civil engineer, Services, and Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO) personnel learn how to build and maintain bare-base operations at forward-deployed locations. Students hone a variety of combat and survival skills, such as repairing bomb-damaged runways, setting up base facilities and disposing of explosive ordnance.

More than 5,600 people are trained each year at the site. Services members receive additional training on providing food service and lodging under simulated wartime conditions, while PERSCO members receive training on accounting for deployed forces, processing casualty reports and conducting personnel sustainment actions.

Over the years, training has expanded to its current program, which includes force bed-down, advanced base recovery after attack, disaster preparedness, fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal, food service and lodging skills, chemical warfare operations and personnel accountability.

The training is essential to maintaining a fine edge to the wing's civil engineer members who have repeatedly deployed to the Afghanistan and Iraq in support of OPERATION Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. More than 40 civil engineers deployed last summer to Afghanistan. They also deployed in 2008 and 2006 on similar missions.