Testing Airmen's Environment Skills

Testing Airmen's Environment Skills
Air Force Print News | TSgt Kevin Wallace | January 10, 2008

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. - Once fine tuned and sharpened with razor-edge precision, an ordinary axe became something magnificent during the Middle Ages. The battleaxe, a choice weapon due to its inexpensive cost and abundant availability, was a dangerous weapon on the battle fields of long ago.

The methods of warfare have evolved drastically over the years and weapons like swords and battleaxes have been replaced with modern armaments.

Still, in the spirit of an exercise partially named for the battleaxe, the men and women of the combined 436th and 512th Airlift wings proved to be more fined tuned and more precise than any weapon yielded when they showed their abilities to survive and operate in a combat environment during Exercise Haunted House Battle Ax in January here.

An Airman's ability to survive and operate during an attack was the focal point of the training, which was designed to prepare Airmen for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection in July.

"This was a great refresher," said Staff Sgt. Michael Bravo, assigned to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron. "We were thrown into the mix several times, but responded quickly and with a good sense of urgency. We made some mistakes, and once even cordoned off an area much too large. Still, that's what we were here for -- to learn."


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