91st SFG engaged in denial exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 91st Security Forces Group, 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron, 791st Missile Security Forces Squadron and 54th Helicopter Squadron participated in a denial exercise at a launch facility near Mohall, N.D. Sept. 25 to prepare units for operational readiness.

"Practice makes perfect," said Master Sgt. Del Lahti, 91st MSFS security forces operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge and exercise evaluator. "The more we train in peace times, the less we die in battle. The primary goal for this exercise is to ensure the 91st Missile Wing has upstanding security forces units to protect our assets."

A hostile scenario was created to simulate an enemy attack on a LF.

The exercise began when an alarm was triggered within the LF and security forces units were immediately deployed. Response time for the teams was well within Air Force standards and amazed the evaluators by how efficiently the teams worked together.

"This is a make-or-break scenario for our mission here," said Capt. Brian Payne, 91st MSFS operations officer. "With our inspection in 20 days, our ability to execute tactics by the book and make the proper on-scene decisions is very important to the success of Team Minot."

Team Minot is a key term here. The local community is always ready and willing to support the AF mission and make Minot AFB a success.

"We have great support from the local community," said Master Sgt. Rick Schlachter, 91st SFG superintendent and exercise evaluator. "They give us great access to the missile sites, which enables us to train our forces on their land adjoining many of our sites. Local North Dakotan's have always been very supportive of our mission here."

Minot AFB owes many thanks to the surrounding communities for its mission success, Sergeant Schlachter added. Their generosity allows exercises like these to be a success.

There were 30-45 Airmen and 10 evaluators participating in the denial exercise. Not to mention the nearly 400 Airmen who were recalled to their respective squadrons in support of mission-essential exercises such as this one.

Community support and battle-ready Airmen weren't the only successful components of the denial exercise; the newly purchased land mobile radios were seen as an effective communication tool. Without technology like this, the mission would be hindered. Additionally, Minot's Airmen, through thick and thin, have learned to keep marching through the impossible in order to reach the goal of glory for Warbirds and Rough Riders alike.

"This is where the rubber meets the road," Captain Payne said. "Our Airmen are ready and willing to defend our nation's assets from enemy attack, to support the mission of Minot AFB. They are true Rough Riders."