514th SFS hones its skills at the CACFT

  • Published
  • By Jonathan E. White
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE DIX LAKEHURST --  
    You will not take me alive!
    The refrain echoed through the air as members of the 514th
Security Forces Squadron extracted an enemy prisoner of war
from a smoke-fi lled building during a training exercise Nov. 16
at the Fort Dix Range 59E Combined Arms Collective Training
Facility.
    The CACTF is setup for units to train on building entry and
room clearing techniques under simulations and blank-fi re conditions
and with a limited subterranean environment in an urban
setting.
    The scenario the Reserve security forces recently underwent
consisted of locating a bomb maker in a village.
    "The squad of 13 was under indirect fi re from small arms and
mortars while clearing the building of enemy combatants," said
Master Sgt. Jack Humphrey, 514 SFS, noncommissioned offi cer
in charge of training.
    Some of the training devices available are smoke and scent
generating systems and a small arms gunfi re noise simulator also
known as the gas gun. The facility also has more than 93 video
cameras with infrared capabilities that can see through smoke and
monitor the Airmen's' actions. Post scenarios trainees and instructors
use the recording equipment in the After-Action Review
building to identify what went right or wrong.
    "We are very fortunate to have the CACTF. The training staff
developed scenarios based on 174 training items we have to complete
annually," said Maj. Michael J. Gibbs, commander, 514 SFS.
    In addition to its annual training items the CACTF staff also
prepared the squadron for its attendance at the Regional Training
Center which takes place every three eat for 16 days. The RTC
focuses on vehicle convoy, self-aid buddy care, weapons familiarization
and more.
    Gibbs addresses why it's necessary for security force members
to constantly do these things when some of our people have
deployed down range and performed them for real.
    "These skills are perishable and personnel often changes," he
said. "In order to remain profi cient, we have to practice these training
scenarios as often as we can."
    Staff Sgt. Christina Felix, 514th SFS, served as one of the
enemy prisoners of war. Playing the role of the "bad guy" gave her
the ability to see her colleagues work together to solve a problem
without giving them the answer.
    "This is why I joined, Felix said. "I have always been more of
hands-on person. This is better than being in an office."