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Maryland Airmen Enhance Combat Readiness with Training Exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Laura Virtue,
  • Maryland Air National Guard

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. –  Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing participated in a combat readiness exercise earlier this month.

Operation Wolverine Strike was held April 1-11 at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport and other locations on the East Coast. It tested the 175th Wing’s ability to adapt and respond to scenarios resulting from a simulated near-peer conflict, focusing on mission-critical tasks in a contested environment. Unit subject matter experts and the inspector general’s office observed all training activities and gave feedback to leaders and participants.

“Every training mission we conduct is a vital step in ensuring we remain ready for any challenge that may come our way,” said Maryland Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Richard Hunt, 175th Wing commander. “Exercises like this are the foundation of our success - building trust, enhancing coordination and perfecting our response times.”

The 175th Wing deployed Airmen to Savannah, Ga.; Badin, N.C.; and Fort Meade, Md. to train on establishing and sustaining forward operating airbases. Martin State Airport was the main operating base, supporting the simulated combat force elements during the exercise.

The training mirrored what Airmen would encounter in real-world deployment conditions. Airmen from across the Wing, including leadership, civil engineers, medical personnel, logistics and numerous support functions, carried out their duties while responding to simulated attacks that required them to don protective equipment and take the necessary steps to ensure a safe operational environment.

“It’s important to assess how well we do in these types of scenarios so we can figure out ways to improve,” said Maryland Air National Guard Capt. Casey Smith, 175th Wing chief of plans and exercises. “This informs what additional training we can execute so that we can become better as a unit. We can learn how to create better scenarios that help us test, train and evaluate our members.”

The exercise began April 1 and continued throughout the week as the 175th Wing prepared to position Airmen at forward operating locations. Airmen from the 175th Security Forces Squadron, 175th Civil Engineer Squadron, 175th Services Flight and the contracting office deployed to Badin using two CH-47 Chinook helicopters assigned to the 29th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade. Airmen from the 175th Operations Group and the 175th Maintenance Group deployed to Savannah using a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 164th Airlift Wing, Tennessee Air National Guard. The 175th Cyberspace Operations Group (COG) prepared Airmen for positions at Ft. Meade.

The exercise continued throughout the April 5-6 regularly scheduled drill weekend. Airmen used and maintained mission-essential tasks under assigned threat environment levels from the main operating base at Martin State Airport and the forward operating locations in Badin, Savannah and Ft. Meade.

Employment and sustainment operations ended for Airmen at Martin State Airport, Badin and Ft. Meade on April 6. The 175th Operations Group, 175th Maintenance Group and 175th Fire Department remained at Savannah until April 11 for continued training and assessment.

Throughout the 11-day exercise, Airmen responded to various organized problem sets simulating real-world events, emphasizing agile combat employment (ACE) tactics and operations and demonstrating their abilities to conduct ACE from austere locations. Airmen stationed at Martin State Airport responded to scenarios including simulated chemical attacks, network outages and force protection events such as auto accidents, unauthorized entries and active shooters.

Airmen positioned at Ft. Meade worked to keep networks operational and conducted defensive cyber operations against simulated adversaries. Airmen deployed to Badin built small shelter systems, established security forces perimeters and responded to chemical attacks and ground force insurgent attacks.

Airmen in Savannah participated in operations in support of maritime surface warfare and close air support exercises with A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron. The exercise aimed to prepare Airmen for future deployments, ensuring they can execute missions under high-risk conditions with minimal exposure.

“The benefit of having multiple forward operating locations is that it helps us maintain a posture of flexibility and adaptability so that we’re ready to deploy forces to provide air support and maintain security,” said Maryland Air National Guard Master Sgt. Wesley Diefenbach, 175th Civil Engineer Squadron structures non-commissioned officer in charge. “Exercises like this challenge Airmen to step out of their comfort zone and work with other squadrons and personnel that they don’t typically work with to put their skills and capabilities to the test.”

After the exercise, the Wing inspection team and inspector general’s office met with Wing leadership to discuss the results and lessons learned from the exercise.

“I’ve seen a lot of success in our responses, especially at the tactical level,” Smith said. “We had very fast response times, showcasing the strength of our training and our ability to adapt quickly under pressure.”