Special Series: U.S. Air Force 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron
PART IV: "The Aircraft has been Compromised"

After one day of virtual training utilizing online video game systems, and four long days of live training, the Controlled F.O.R.C.E. training operation culminated in the MOUT and Aircraft Recovery Training. This final element of training utilized MISTIC's on-site 747 Jumbo Jet aircraft and village.

THE MISSION  The twelve person SFS team boarded the plane to deploy to a hostile operating environment. Flight was simulated on-board while the Major briefed the team on its mission. Instructors Roncal and Frank were designated as NATO Observers and would follow their respective teams through the scenario. Roncal was given call-sign Hollywood and Frank was given call-sign Long Toes. Airmen with the 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs, on-hand to document the operation, were designated as embedded media personnel.

Upon landing in the deployable area, the team's mission was to secure the village that had been overtaken by an insurgent force. To add to the realism of the scenario, the two "neighborhoods" of the village were named Tonytown and Donniville after lead instructors Tony Grano and Don Roberts. Insurgents, role players replete with AK-47s and "man-jammies", were located throughout the village to fire on the team.

Once the village was secured, a call came in that the aircraft had been compromised. The team then had to recover the aircraft, utilizing the skills they had developed throughout the week. During the MOUT operation, there was one Airmen "casualty." The team had to adjust to the loss of its team leader, which it was trained to do, and continue the mission.

CONCLUSION  TSgt Cline, one of the team leaders, observed that “while this exact scenario may never be performed by the students, the overall training still gives students a base of knowledge to perform linear assaults and also a way of thinking through problems.” The Airmen were taught to adapt the skills that they had been developing throughout the week to new situations. As TSgt Cline put it, the exercise taught the students “how to fish” rather than just being fed, enhancing skills that will no doubt pay off when these Airmen are actually deployed to a hostile environment.
 

GO TO:  Part I  |  Part II  |  Part III  |  Part IV
 

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Check out the Air Force Public Affairs article "Kicking doors, taking names"

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