Minot's Road warriors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jesse Lopez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. --  "EndEx, EndEx, EndEx!"

These words echo throughout the North Training Area at Camp Guernsey, Wyo. as Staff. Sgt. Ryan Wood, 620th Ground Combat Training Squadron Road Warrior course lead, radios in the end of the iteration as the 10-day, nuclear-convoy training exercise (called Road Warrior) comes to a close.

The clinking of brass rattling against hollow tin ammo containers signifies the end of Road Warrior, which is operating in its 10th year.

91st Security Forces Group defenders attended Road Warrior X to learn new skills and hone their craft to ensure our nation's strategic assets are kept safe and secure at all times.

"Members learn to effectively utilize their weapon systems as well as recover from real world malfunctions during combat situations to the best of their abilities," Wood said.

The training is designed to teach Airmen how to safeguard, transport and recover a nuclear asset. The students are given the opportunity to hone their shooting skills on a U.S. Army qualification course, as well as familiarize with numerous weapons and procedures vital to the mission of Minot Air Force Base.
Airmen attending the event are given an opportunity to obtain as much knowledge as possible by participating in as many as three training exercises a day.

Maj. Jay Parsons, 620th GCTS commander stressed the importance of learning to implement these tactics and necessity of reliance on natural intuition.

"It is critical for the training participants to know how to anticipate, engage and counter potential scenarios that can develop real world," said Parsons.

The ability to work as an integrated team is a goal 1st Lt. Megan Sylvester, 791st MSFS Convey Response Force commander, hopes her Airmen can better employ and take back to their home station.

Exercises like Road Warrior is yet another tool the 791st MSFS use to practice reacting to threats against a convoy, reiterate important emergency procedures and train on regaining positive control of a resource. In the end, it helps ensure these skills become embedded into Minot's Airmen.

"I want my Airmen to count on each other through unit cohesion and working together in contingency situations as well as being proficient on various post throughout the convey to operate effectively and step it up when it counts," said Sylvester.

To view a slideshow of Minot's Road Warriors in action, click HERE.