WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Approximately 96 Airmen from 12 445th Airlift Wing squadrons participated in its first Warrior Challenge competition, here November 8 and 15. The competition tested Airmen on the Airman's Manual, Airman's Creed, donning and doffing Mission-Oriented Protective Posture gear and the Size, Activity, Location, Unit, Time, Equipment or SALUTE report. After the scores were in, the 87th Aerial Port Squadron stood victorious.
"I think it is good for all of the squadrons to come in--a lot of these people are traditional reservists, so they do not see each other all the time," said Tech. Sgt. Bryant Fox, 445th Inspector General Inspections member. "They have to work together as a team for the competition. It's good for them to sharpen their warfighting skills."
Each unit pulled a sampling of 10 Airmen to represent their unit in the competition. "We had a good mix of everybody," said Maj. Keith Sullivan, 445th AW IGI member.
IGI personnel randomly divided group into two-person teams to run through MOPP and SALUTE stations with the exception of the Airman's Creed station, where one person was selected to recite the creed. All team members were given a 10-question, multiple-choice, open-book test on the Airman's manual.
IGI honed in their creativity skills and created an elaborate diorama equipped with model soldiers and an extensive array of combat assets. During the competition, a two-person team from the 89th Airlift Squadron eagerly approached the line 25 yards away from the diorama to provide a SALUTE report while Maj. Douglas West, 445th AW IGI deputy director, evaluated their performance.
"What we are seeing is when they initially get the binoculars, they are a little overwhelmed by all of the activity on the display," said Master Sgt. John Patten, IGI wing inspection team member. "Once they settle in and start counting the men and the equipment, they start putting everything in a SALUTE format. The teams are getting the big picture pretty well, but we hidden some Easter eggs in here and they are struggling with those."
"It takes them six minutes to do a SALUTE report for the task. In the real world they would go back and share the information with intelligence," said West. "The idea is to get the most accurate information using the SALUTE criteria to define who the enemy is and what they see."
The competition is designed to keep the unit's skills current, especially since Operation Readiness Exercises are no longer a requirement in the inspection program. "
We want to keep those combat skills sharp or to at least have some familiarity, so five or ten years later and when you pick up a mobility bag, you have no idea what to do," said Sullivan.
The 445th AW traditionally held Operational Readiness Inspection Rodeo competitions under the former Air Force Inspection program. However, since ORIs were eliminated two years ago, IGI scaled the rodeos down to a four-part unit competition.
IGI plans to conduct the competition every year during November's Scarlet and Gray Unit Training Assemblies. The winner will be presented with a trophy during December's Commander Call. The winning squadron this year--87th APS--will be awarded points that can go towards their squadron of the year award package.