Brief

Kevin Spears briefs members of the exercise evaluation team on what events they would go through during their hour of training at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 22, 2011. Spears later broke the team into four groups consisting of different training exercises involving mission-oriented protective posture gear. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

Critical Information

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan Countryman, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron readiness emergency management, goes over key points on his section during an ability to survive and operate training session at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 22, 2011. Countryman was one of four instructors who briefed during the training “rodeo”. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

Time for instruction

U.S. Air Force Airman Dustin Garner, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron readiness emergency management, goes over objectives during an ability to survive and operate rodeo training session at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 22, 2011. Members from the exercise evaluation team gained knowledge to pass to their units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

A little assistance

U.S. Air Force Airman Dustin Garner, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron readiness emergency management, and an exercise evaluation team member demonstrate how to properly secure a gas mask during an ability to survive and operate rodeo training session at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., July 22, 2011. Garner had each member pair up with a partner and perform buddy checks to ensure their gear was worn correctly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paul Francis/Released)

Rodeo prepares evaluation members for base inspection

Published July 22, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- "If you can't succeed with a simulated war at the home station then how can you hope to protect this country during an actual deployment."

These were the words of Tech. Sgt. Kyle Seevers, 23rd Wing plans NCO in-charge of exercise evaluation team management as EET members participated in the ability to survive and operate, or ATSO, rodeo July 22 in preparation for upcoming exercises, inspections and deployments.

"The purpose of the ATSO rodeo is to let all of the EET members who are trained here today take back what they learned to their units," said Ken Spears, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron, ATSO instructor. "This will allow these EET members and their units to train their Airmen on what is needed to be done."

The EET members attended one of four hour-long classes where they learned what to look for when members use a bunker, perform a post attack reconnaissance sweep and don their mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) gear.

Previous ATSO rodeos consisted of the wing coming together as a whole and training as a large group. The next ATSO rodeo will consist of EET members in each unit taking that role and teaching their people on the proper methods.

"The reason we focused on teaching the EET these specific areas like the correct way to perform a PAR sweep was because these were all problem that we have seen during our operational readiness exercises," said Mr. Spears. "Focusing on these problem areas will help gear us towards passing the upcoming operational readiness inspection."

Moody is scheduled to participate in an upcoming operational readiness inspection next year where inspector general members will visit Moody and make sure the 23rd Wing is fully prepared to deploy at a moment's notice.