Dover Airmen practice readiness in Vengeant Eagle 2.0

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zoe M. Wockenfuss
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  More than 250 Airmen participated in simulated deployment readiness activities during Exercise Vengeant Eagle 2.0 July 25-26, 2018, at Dover AFB.

The exercise consisted of processing through personnel deployment and cargo deployment function lines, attending intelligence briefings and responding to simulated threats including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear. In addition, the 436th Security Forces Squadron conducted their own exercise to test their ability to defend a deployed location in a contested and contaminated environment.

The Airmen participating in the exercise had to perform their normal duties while wearing their Mission-Oriented Protective Posture, which restricts mobility and visibility. They were being evaluated as well as corrected to ensure proper procedures were being performed.

“The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the wing’s readiness for real-world contingencies, operational plans and higher headquarters tasking, while assessing the wing’s ability to survive, operate and defend in a chemically contaminated environment,” said Richard Bowman, 436th Airlift Wing deputy inspector general.

Vengeant Eagle 2.0 was one more step in the bigger picture of Total Force Full Spectrum Readiness after its predecessor, Vengeant Eagle, in February 2018. The wing was able to take the feedback, learn from previous mistakes and progress in the areas that needed improvement.

There were two phases of the exercise: Phase 1 practiced the initial deployment of members in a specific allotted time, and Phase 2 focused on sustaining operations at a deployed location during heightened force protection conditions and CBRN threats.

The exercise did not focus solely on ground activity, as members of the 3rd Airlift Squadron donned Aircrew Eye and Respiratory Protection while flying a mission. After the C-17 Globemaster III landed, the aircrew processed through a decontamination line at the 436th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment section.

“The exercise was a success, the wing gained valuable readiness skills and our deployment processes were sharpened,” said Bowman.

Another exercise is being planned in conjunction with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in order to improve Team Dover’s ability to join multiple wings in a contingency effort.