Guam Provides Excellent Training Environment
Not only is the weather
better here than at home, but their deployment is providing them
with a great training environment, said Airmen from of the 5th Bomb
Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. About 300 people from various
specialties arrived here in February to support Minot’s six
B-52 Stratofortress aircraft conducting operations in the Pacific.
Some wing Airmen said what they have learned and experienced
operating in the Pacific Rim has been invaluable. Others mentioned
that they are just glad to get away from the freezing temperatures
at Minot and enjoy the tropical climate here.
“We’re very excited to be here. This training is a
real change of pace for us,” said Senior Master Sgt. Wayne
Guilbault, deployed munitions flight chief.
Normally, when the Airmen deploy they rapidly build munitions to
support combat missions. In this environment, they also get the
opportunity to build a lot of munitions but the pace is slower. For
almost a month, Sergeant Guilbault’s crew has been working
side-by-side with their Andersen counterparts at the munitions
storage area here. During the past two weeks the team assembled
more than 400 bombs for aircrews to drop.
Sergeant Guilbault said this mission not only allows them to
satisfy aircrew training, but it also helps Andersen get rid of
some of its older munitions that were causing a maintenance
backlog. Second Lt. Tim Troup, an aircraft maintenance officer,
said this deployment has been great for his Airmen.
“We have young people who have never deployed
before,” Lieutenant Troup said. “This training helps
them get a better idea of what it’s like to work away from
home.”
He also said being here
gives his people the chance to correct their mistakes without the
added pressure of real-world missions or the distractions of
home-station operations. Senior Airman Lester Smith, an engine
mechanic, said that the best things about Guam are the weather is
always nice, and the sky is always clear.
“Although it can get very hot at times, working in this
heat beats being out on the flightline when the temperature dips
below zero,” he said.
The 5th BW Airmen are the first rotation to deploy to Guam
following the decision to station a bomber force here. Their
presence here is part of U.S. Pacific Command’s ongoing force
posture adjustment.
ANN thanks USAF Master Sgt. Val Gempis.