Page 6 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition July 2021

6 July 2021 Desert Lightning News Desert Lightning News July 2021 7
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Bushwhacker, Mobility Guardian sharpen Dynamic Wing Lights! Camera! Training!

by Senior Airman
JACoB T. STePheNS
355th Wing Public Affairs Davis-Monthan AFB staff aid in Crime Scene Training film production
Airmen from the 355th Wing executed
exercise Bushwhacker 21-2, as well as by At this unique venue, the FSCs recreated Birks’ team was excited about the concept,
participated in exercise Mobility Guard- WAYNe AMANN the murder scenes of town Marshal Fred but those who had not seen Tombstone needed
ian 2021, at locations across the country, OSI Public Affairs White and Morgan Earp, as depicted in to watch the movie to determine what crime
May 17 - 25. Tombstone. The location and buildings used for scenes they wanted to recreate, what they
The wing’s rescue and attack missions quANTiCo, va. — For years, Hollywood the training were the same used in the film. needed for props and how to stage the scenes.
trained to improve capabilities in dynamic movie makers have sought the expertise of the The scenes were complete with period correct Hoffmann then informed the Mescal Movie
forward adaptive basing and agile combat U.S. military to serve as technical advisors, to clothing for the deceased, plus weapons and set proprietors what OSI needed to stage the
employment, as the Dynamic Wing contin- ensure what was depicted on the silver screen movie props to create the feel and atmosphere indoor set and outdoor area. The areas used
ues to develop and remains on the leading was as true to life as possible. of the Old West. for the training are the actual locations where
edge of the Air Force. Now, in a role reversal of sorts, the Office The training focused on crime scene docu- the scenes were shot in the movie. Training
“Participating in these exercises allowed of Special Investigations has employed Hol- mentation, including sketching the scene to dummies were acquired from the fire depart-
our squadron to work from a forward lywood’s make-believe realism to advance real scale and photography. FSCs also provided ment to replicate the victims’ bodies, and a
operating base and maneuver out to four life law enforcement skillsets. training on the proper way to locate, document medic would be on scene, if needed during the
contingency locations in less than a week,” On June 11, Special Agents from OSI and collect evidence, like an Old West-style training, since the set was about a 40-minute William Hoffmann
said Lt. Col. Gary Glojek, 354th Fighter Senior Airman Christian Moran-Rudd, Detachment 217; 2nd Field Investigations revolver. drive from Davis-Monthan. 355th Security Forces Investigator Kyle
Sitkowksi, left, and Office of Special
Squadron commander. “With the mobility 355th Operations Support Squadron air Region, Operating Location-B; and Procure- The concept for this outside-the-box training Once all the moving parts were in place, Investigations, 12th Field Investigations
assets here to help us move, we were able to traffic controller, clears an A-10 Thunder- ment Fraud Det. 3, OL-A; Investigators from belonged to OSI Det. 217 Commander, Lt. Col. Hoffmann conducted a type of casting call, by Squadron Special Agent and Forensic
fulfill training orders and missions includ- Photos by Senior Airman Blake Gonzales bolt II for a low approach at Young Tacti- the 355th Security Forces Squadron; and the (SA) John Hoffmann. inviting the law enforcement members to take
ing integrated combat turns, landing on an Airmen from the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Unit recover an A-10 Thunderbolt II after cal Landing Site, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, 355th Judge Advocate Chief of Military Jus- “My wife and I saw a show at the Gunfight part in the training production. Science Consultant Matthew Simonton,
unpaved runway, and build-up and sustain landing at Young Tactical Landing Site, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, May 22. May 21. tice, all from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Palace in Tombstone, Ariz., which looked like Afterward, Crime Scene Training received discuss the murder of Morgan Earp.
a base using the skills our multi-capable “starred” in Crime Scene Training, presented an Old West saloon,” Hoffmann said. “I thought rave reviews from those in the know.
Airmen have learned over the last year.” by Forensic Science Consultants (FSC) from it would be interesting to use a set like that “This venue gave our agents and our inves- “This training was a great opportunity for
This training proves the readiness of and having mobility aircraft bring us what bolt II crew chief. “Doing this proves the proves our ability to accomplish the mission the 12th Field Investigations Squadron, Buck- to do crime scene training with the FSCs. I tigative partners a chance to exercise their OSI, Security Forces, and JA to work together
our Airmen meets the needs of tomorrow’s we need helps us turn jets from smaller versatility of the A-10 and the unit that in any situation,” Castro said. “This process ley AFB, Colo. wanted to make the training interesting by skills in a unique and realistic environment. to enhance our crime scene investigation skills
Air Force today, by operating in potentially contingency locations and stay in the fight. supports it, as we prepare for the opera- is a lot of learning to communicate and work A “cast” of 23 participated in the training, incorporating some of the local history as the Using story lines and set locations from the in a fun, historically-rich environment,” said
austere and contested environments with This helps us move to more contingency tions we expect to see in the future. The with other jobs, so crew chiefs can perform held at the Mescal Movie set in Mescal, Ariz., backdrop, instead of the usual dorm room or movie provided context for the scenes and Capt. Jordan Grande, 355th Assistant Staff
minimal command and control. In doing locations and see how we can become more Air Force is becoming more multi-capable fuels or logistics tasks, if needed. This is where the majority of the 1993 movie Tomb- day room.” presented challenges not found in a dorm room Judge Advocate. “The FSCs have a wealth of
this, the Dynamic Wing has continued to agile, lethal and resilient.” through making Airmen more agile and not something we are used to and it pushes stone was shot. It took nearly two months of coordination or house on base,” said Hoffmann. “Including experience in processing crime scenes and we
prove that it can rapidly wield combat The way the Air Force becomes more flexible.” us to be innovative in the way we handle Tombstone is an American Western film for the production to come to fruition. the Judge Advocate and Security Forces in were lucky to learn from them and also work
airpower anywhere, anytime to deter and agile, lethal and resilient is by resting on The Air Force is innovating the way it situations and solve problems.” based on events in Tombstone, Ariz., including “Once I scouted the location, I pitched the this training gave the Joint Base Enforcement in some Western movie references along the
defeat any adversary. the foundation of the Dynamic Wing, the operates to empower Airmen to lead and More than 200 multi-capable Airmen the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp idea via Zoom to SA Heather Birks, the OSI Team on Davis-Monthan a chance to train and way. Our organizations continue to partner as
“By having mobility assets here to re- multi-capable Airmen. propel the service towards the future force from Davis-Monthan participated alongside Vendetta Ride, during the 1880s. It depicts 12 FIS Forensics Flight Chief,” Hoffmann ex- learn together. Building these team bonds in a Joint Base Enforcement Team to build our
constitute our gear and our people like we “We are in a different environment, set- that the nation needs. The Dynamic Wing hundreds of other Airmen from across Air a number of Western outlaws and lawmen, plained. “We reviewed photos I took of the set training breaks down the tribal boundaries of investigative capabilities as one cohesive team
would need downrange, we are training ting up tents and making the best of what is accelerating this change by setting the Combat Command and Air Mobility Com- such as Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo, and Doc to determine what types of scenes they could our career fields and better prepares us to in- and this training was another step forward in
a capability that we don’t always have,” we can with a new, unfinished runway,” standard for how we are going to operate, mand, which makes these Airmen more Holliday. set up for the training.” vestigate criminal matters as a cohesive unit.” that effort.”
Glojek said. “Typically, resupply of fuel and said Senior Airman Emilio Castro, 354th move and win. interoperable with each other, creating a
weapons is one of our biggest challenges Aircraft Maintenance Unit A-10 Thunder- “We are learning a lot of new skills, which more ready and lethal force.

214th Attack Group makes first appearance in Red Flag Rescue Youth Impact Program visits D-M

by from other units to pilot the MQ-9 remotely,
162nd WiNg in what is called remote split operations. by Airman 1st Class officers to augment the mentorship and training provided by the another avenue,” said Tech. Sgt. Brittany Gudino, 355th Maintenance
“We are launching one of the Reapers to vAughN WeBeR program staff, the program educated students on the core values that Group Training Management section chief. “We give them leadership
Public Affairs Airmen live by. opportunities to learn how to make correct choices, so when they’re out
be flown by the Ohio Air National Guard 355th Wing Public Affairs
FoRT huAChuCA, Ariz. — The 214th who will fly a sortie before handing it over “The reason why this program came together was to give athletic kids there in the schools they know integrity and accountability.”
Attack Group’s MQ-9 Reapers made their to the 50th Attack Squadron at Shaw AFB,” Members of the Youth Impact Program
first appearance in the fourth annual Red said Phillips. “Once the mission is complete, visited Davis-Monthan Air Force Base June 18.
Flag Rescue at Playas Training Center, New we will then recover the aircraft at Libby The Youth Impact Program is a community
Mexico, May 11. Airfield on Fort Huachuca.” outreach program designed to partner with
Red Flag Rescue is the Department Participating in Red Flag Rescue gave the universities and NFL teams across the United
of Defense’s premier multi-national and team from the 214th ATKG an opportunity States, in order to help promote positive devel-
multi-service combat search and rescue to hone their readiness skills. opment in middle school students.
training exercise. The exercise allows mili- “Providing these capabilities in a state- “There are all kinds of things going on,” said
tary units from across the world to integrate side training exercise ensures that our David Watson, Amphitheater Public Schools
into a multi-week event which develops the aircrews are prepared to execute combat teacher. “We are exposing them to the uni-
fundamentals of planning and executing search and rescue during their ongoing versity and also exposing them to the armed
complex combat search and rescue events. combat missions and helps educate partner forces — which lets them know that there’s
“Through a herculean amount of effort forces on our capabilities, ensuring efficient more out there than just that little section of
on the part of the Red Flag Rescue team, usage of assets in real-life combat search town they’re in.”
as well as members of the 214th ATKG, we and rescue events,” said Phillips. “The This is the first time a U.S. Air Force base
were finally able to participate by supplying culmination of these effects is faster and hosted the Youth Impact Program. By partner-
an aircraft for the exercise this year,” said more effective combat search and rescue ing with the University of Arizona, Airmen
Tech Sgt. Aaron Phillips, a 214th Attack availability to the war fighters overseas were able to showcase their occupation and
Squadron flight chief, 162nd Wing, Arizona right now.” pass on their mentorship skills to the young
Air National Guard. “This year presented This year’s Red Flag Rescue exercise students.
an exciting opportunity for the 214th ATKG, contained the largest number of participat- “I think giving them positive role models
as it was the first time an MQ-9 aircraft ing flying units, and the largest number of courtesy photo both at the athletics center and in the armed
has ever participated in Red Flag Rescue.” international military units to include 15 Staff Sgt. Jason Ayala, 214th Attack Group Avionics, performs a pre-flight software forces is huge,” Watson said. “I think we’re go-
The 214th ATKG provided the aircraft for different types of aircraft, 500 personnel, load onto an MQ-9 Reaper during Red Flag Rescue 21-1, May 13, at Fort Huachuca, ing to see a lot of positive change.” Airman 1st Class Vaughn Weber
the exercise but coordinated with aircrew 33 units and six partner nations. Arizona. By sending experienced non-commissioned Youth Impact Program members and personnel pose for a photo at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, June 18.